LtGen AP Clark

[Guest zookrider]

LtGen AP Clark, instrumental in the Stalag Luft III breakout that inspired The Great Escape, and former Supt of USAFA, has died at age 96.

He helped set up the POW archive at the USAFA library, and used to speak to cadets in History 330 pretty regularly. A Supt who Steve McQueen tried to be like.

Here's a toast.

[M2]

:salut:

LIEUTENANT GENERAL ALBERT P. CLARK

Retired Aug. 1, 1974. Died March 8, 2010.

Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark is superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colo.

General Clark was born at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in 1913. He is a 1936 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and completed flying training at Randolph Field, Texas, in 1937.

He then served at Selfridge Field, Mich., and in June 1942, went to England as second in command of the 31st Fighter Group, the first American fighter unit in the European Theater of Operations. He was shot down over Abbeville, France, in July 1942 and was a prisoner of war until April 1945.

After World War II, he progressed through key staff assignments with Tactical Air Command, Continental Air Command and Air Defense Command prior to a tour of duty at Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

General Clark commanded the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing at Chaumont Air Base in France, in 1955-1956, and then served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

His next assignment was as chief of the U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia. He was director of military personnel at Headquarters U.S. Air Force for four years beginning in 1959 and was then assigned to Okinawa as commander of the 313th Air Division.

In August 1965, he was named vice commander of the Tactical Air Command. He assumed duties as commander of Air University in August 1968, and in August 1970, he was appointed superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

A command pilot, he is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart.

(Current as of Jan. 15, 1973)

[Steve Davies]

God speed

[Stitch]