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Airlift salute
Volume 49, No. 13, July 26, 2007 |
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| DISTINGUISHED SERVICE: The late AIRCDRE Stanley Clark commanded Air Lift Group at RAAF Base Richmond from 1990-1993. |
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Fly-overs by a 37SQN Hercules and three 38SQN Caribous provided a fitting salute as Air Force farewelled one of its leading airlift members.
AIRCDRE Stanley Clark (ret’d), a former CDRALG passed away on June 30 and was buried with full military honours on July 5. He was 68.
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd and CDRALG AIRCDRE Jack Plenty joined other Air Force personnel, family and other guests at the service.
AIRCDRE Clark enlisted in 1956, graduating as a pilot three years later and posted to 38SQN to fly Dakota aircraft. He later returned as the squadron CO from 1976-1978.
During this time, he served at 34 and 36SQNs and 81WG Headquarters. Highlights of his service included flights to the Thai/Malay border in 1965, a number of flights to Vietnam and Ubon, Thailand between 1964 and 1966, and several flights into the South-West Pacific region between 1960 and 1972.
From 1970-1971, AIRCDRE Clark deployed to South Vietnam as the CO of 35SQN, flying Caribous out of Vung Tau. During his deployment, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also well known for his efforts to maximise squadron efficiency and proficiency, while improving the living and working facilities and morale of the squadron’s personnel.
Following his return from Vietnam, AIRCDRE Clark served in several staff positions in Australia, including HQ Operational Command, the RAAF Support Unit, Headquarters Townsville and Headquarters Air Lift Group as commander from 1990-1993.
While there, he participated in Operation Damask (the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces) in the Persian Gulf from February 24-March 4, 1990. He served on exchange with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Air Attaché at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
On May 3, 1993, AIRCDRE Clark posted back to the Support Unit at Glenbrook where he served the remainder of his career before retiring on January 3, 1994.
Described as ‘an illustrious figure within the Air Force’s airlift units’, he became state president of the NSW Branch of the RAAF Association, an office he held until his passing.
He is survived by his wife, three children and seven grandchildren. |
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