Russell Murray CLARKE DFC

Serial Number: NZ42190
RNZAF Trade: Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 7th of January 1942
Date of Demob: 1st of January 1946
Rank Achieved: Flying Officer
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties: 130 operational sorties

Date of Birth: 25th of April 1921, at Matamata
Personal Details: Prewar, Russell was a clerk. Russell lived at Tamahere, just north of Cambridge, postwar.

Service Details: Served on No. 485 (NZ) Squadron. DFC citation read:

"This officer has flown on a large number of operational sorties of a varied nature. He has attacked enemy troop concentrations, transport and communications.Many of these missions have involved deep penetration into enemy territory and have included attacks against such heavily defended targets as Flushing, Bolougne and Dunkirk. During these missions Flying Officer Clarke has inflicted considerable damage on the enemy's motor transports, locomotives, ships and barges. He has, throughout, accomplished his allotted tasks with keeness, determination and skill, while his devotion to duty has been worthy of the highest praise."

Date of Death: Russell passed away on the th of January 2011, aged 89

Connection with Cambridge: Russell grew up in Taupiri, on the northern edge of the Cambridge district. Russ told me that usually when the family went to town for shopping or to see friends, etc, it was to Cambridge.

NOTE: I interviewed Russ a few years before his death and given time I plan to post more information from that interview here on his page.

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