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| USAAF 5th AF 348th FG 342nd FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Clark E. Kooper, O-693142 (MIA / KIA) Logan County, NB Crashed March 13, 1945 at 11:15am MACR 13527 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Dallas, Texas. Constructors Number 111-30187. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-51D-10-NA Mustang serial number 44-12054. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group, 342nd Fighter Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine V-1650-7 serial number V-329960. Weapon serial numbers noted on Missing Air Crew Report 13527 (MACR 13527). Mission History On March 13, 1945 took off fro San Marcelino Airfield on Luzon a fighter sweep mission over Hainan Island. Weather was broken cumulus 6/10 to 8/10 to 14,000'. Kooper was flying with wingman 2nd Lt. Robert G. Dow, Jr. At 11:15, over Samah Airfield on southern Hainan Island, the formation was intercepted by five enemy fighters. After breaking off from the engagement, wingman Dow observed smoke coming from this aircraft's engine. This aircraft's engine failed and Kooper bailed out. This Mustang crashed into the South China Sea roughly 20 miles off the southeast tip of Hainan Island off the coast of China. 2nd Lt. Robert G. Dow, Jr. observed the crash. Kooper was observed to bailed out and was observed to land safely. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Dow did not circle him further, afraid of attracting or alerting the enemy fighters. After observing him land safely, Dow turned on his emergency beacon to mark the position and climbed to 10,000' to contact "Playmate" (Catalina) and reported the loss location. Search Afterwards, Air & Sea Rescue Squadron and the U.S. Navy were immediately notified searched for this aircraft, including a flight of four aircraft from the squadron, searching a radius of fifty miles from where Kooper was last observed. There were nil sightings. Memorials Kooper was officially declared dead on March 14, 1946. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at MAC. He also has a memorial marker at Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance, NB at section E, row 1, site 18. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Clark E. Kooper USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-51D-10-NA Mustang 44-14621 "14621 (F-6D, 301st Service Squadron, 8th Service Group, 5th AF) crashed off Lae in Huon Gulf Morobe Papua New Guinea due to engine failure Dec 1, 1944. MACR 11901. Pilot killed." Missing Air Crew Report 13527 (MACR 13527) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clark E. Kooper FindAGrave - 1Lt Clark E Kooper (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Clark Eugene Kooper (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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