2Lt Clark Alonzo Teasdale Dies in Battle

700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group

JOHNATHON ALTON WOODINGTON > EMMA WOODINGTON m. Clark Alonzo Teasdale > ALONZO CLARK TEASDALE m Rose Vacha > 2LT CARK ALONZO TEASDALE

Young Clark Alonzo Teasdale was born 29 June 1920 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His mother, Rose Vacha, died at age 34 on 29 Aug 1927, and his father, Alonzo Clark Teasdale, died at age 36 on 20 Jun 1929 of heart disease, leaving young Clark an orphan. He was raised by his grandparents, Clark and Emma (Woodington) Teasdale. When he was 20, he joined the Army Air Corps 19 June 1940.

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Originally rejected for entry into the air corps due to its height requirements, he had worked for the CCC for six months before those requirements were abolished. He enlisted and attained the rank of technical sergeant before he was selected as a Cadet for officer pilot training. He attended a number of technical schools throughout the US, before being commissioned at Freeman Field in Seymour, Indiana.

He was assigned to the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He flew a total of 15 missions as co-pilot and pilot, including the last flight he took. That day, he flew out of Tibenham, Norfolk, England as a co-pilot aboard a B-24H Liberator/Tail #42-7643, "Ballsafire." The aircraft's fourth and final mission was described as follows:

"While enroute to target city of Friedrichshafen, Germany, the bomber fell back, and turned around with an undefined mechanical problem. The plane would not make it back to the U.K., having crashed near Trouans, nineteen miles north-northeast of Troyes, France.

All aboard were killed, including:

1st Lt. Richard A Raroha, Pilot
2nd Lt. Clark A Teasdale, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. James J Williams, Navigator
2nd Lt. Daniel F McCoy, Bombardier
TSgt. Andrew J Martin, Radio Operator
TSgt. Charles J Fermyn, Engineer-Top Turret Gunner
SSgt. Richard W Fertig, Waist Gunner
SSgt. James R Monnett, Waist Gunner
SSgt. Earl P Radtke, Tail Gunner
SSgt. Wilfred J Schaich, Ball Turret Gunner"

On 22 Apr 1944, the War Department declared the crew Missing in Action. Three of the crew were buried with the same stone at Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. Eight months later, he was declared death.

Grandfather Clark Teasdale (center)
receives Clark's air medal, 1944.

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/401
http://www.445bg.org/files/445thBG_Acft.pdf
http://wwii-army.mooseroots.com/l/1270973/Clark-A-Teasdale
US, World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
US National Cemetery Internment Control Forms, 1928-1962
1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]
1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]
Army Makes Him Religious, Madison State Journal; Oct 20, 1940
Aviation Medal Given Teasdale, La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Oct  30, 1944
Hold Flyer's Rites Sunday, La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconsin; May 3, 1945
Updated: 8/2/2017