Herbert Clark

Herbert Vanallen Clark (1919 – 2003)

Combat fighter pilot, Herbert Vanallen “Bud” Clark was a decorated Tuskegee Airman flying for the “Red Tails” during World War II in Europe. The “Red Tails” were the all African American air unit established early in the war as an “experiment” to establish whether or not black men could be taught to fly an airplane. The prejudice was a holdover from the attitudes white people developed during the time slavery was permitted in the nation’s early history. Clark and seven other Arkansas Tuskegee Airmen proved the answer.

Clark was born in Brinkley, Arkansas on March 16, 1919. His family moved to Pine Bluff when he was ten months old. He attended segregated public schools in Jefferson County, Arkansas in the 20’s and 30’s. After high school, Clark intended to study Aeronautical Engineering, but he abandoned that goal after realizing that commercial airlines at the time were refusing to hire black pilots or engineers, regardless of their qualifications.

In1942, Clark entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) in Tuskegee, Alabama. He was the first Arkansan to graduate from this program to become a fighter pilot. He completed his primary military flight training at the Tuskegee Institute (now University) graduating on July 3, 1942, receiving his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was then assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group’s 99th Pursuit Squadron where he participated in several missions around Sicily. During a dive–bombing mission over the Anzio beachhead, his P-40 Warhawk was damaged. He famously innovated a one–wheel landing upon returning to base, a feat of airmanship that preserved the airplane and became legendary within the 15th Air Force and resulted in a Distinguished Flying Cross for Clark. By November 5, 1943, he completed his first combat tour and returned to the United States.

Clark along with other 99th veterans chose not to return to the 99th because of low morale issues including, but not limited to white leadership that still held reservations about the pilots’ abilities, continued discrimination within the bases (barred from officers’ clubs) and other reasons. Clark eventually returned to the 99th in late 1944 during which time he completed his ten missions. On August 16, 1944, while flying near Miane, Italy, Clark’s aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft flak. He parachuted from the burning plane but suffered a head wound after striking a tree during his descent. Reported as Missing in Action for the next eight months, Clark was actually rescued by the Italian resistance who hid and treated him. Rather than remaining a passive fugitive, Clark integrated with the partisans and eventually led a group of resistance fighters in attacks against German positions in Northern Italy. When he finally walked back into Allied lines on May 4, 1945, his fellow airmen were in a state of pandemonium because they thought he had perished.

Following WWII, Clark returned to the U.S. rising to the rank of Major and attending the USAF Command and Staff College in the early 50’s retiring in 1955.

He married in Pine Bluff, had two daughters, and a son. After his retirement in 1955, the family moved to Philadelphia where he worked as a electronics instrument maker for Leeds and Northrup. Around 1983, following correspondence courses he was ordained as a Reverend and served as an associate minister for The Open Door Church in Philadelphia. He retired again and the family moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. In 2006, the Congressional Gold Medal was collectively awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen for their service and struggle against segregation.

He passed away at age 83 in the Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg on January 25, 2003