The REAL 'Masters of the Air' | Bloody Hundredth Co-pilot on Air Combat | 8th Air Force | John Clark

John Clark was born into a generation captivated by air travel. As a child he would build model airplanes and dream of one day taking to the skies. Following America's entry into World War II, Clark knew that he wanted to take the fight directly to Germany's doorstep and enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942.
Clark would find himself a co-pilot aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 100th Bomb Group, famously known as the "Bloody Hundredth" due to the amount of casualties the unit saw. Decades later, the outfit would gain acclaim for its portrayal in the television miniseries, Masters of the Air. Clark would survive 32 harrowing bombing missions over Germany, flying at 28,000 feet amidst enemy flak and fighter planes.
Prior to shipping to Europe, Clark was assigned to Las Vegas Army Airfield as a co-pilot trainee. At the officers' club on his first night there, he spotted a young woman in uniform - Marie Mountain - an aviator with the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, better known as the WASPs, whose job was to help train the bomber crews in fighting off enemy fighters. Immediately smitten, John and Marie dated during his brief time at Las Vegas - and would marry upon his return home after the war, July 1945. They were married for 63 years, until her passing in 2008.
Interview recorded on December 18, 2023
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Video Credits:
Director of Photography - Ethan Nagel
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[@Mastermind373]

Before you know it these veterans won’t be around to tell the story first hand. Thank you and all veterans for your service.

[@backstabingpike]

😂😂😂 I'll trade your thanks for maybe you should vote and actually care about your veterans because I don't know if you know this but those guys had to build their own VA and the VA is in constant struggle because people don't vote and don't care and they put terrible people in charge of the VA all the time so stop thanking us for a service and actually give a crap 😂😂😂

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

The ones that are still around are walking miracles. The last one I personally know passed a couple years ago. A top turret gunner that made it to either 103-106yo. He was born at home and wasn’t exactly sure what year. He outlived his entire family and local friends. Buried in an unmarked paupers grave in Ok

[@billb89]

I wish my grandfather would've told more stories but he really didn't like talking about it.

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

@@billb89 I spent a life time since I was small child interviewing these fellas. I regret not recording them. However most were in their late 40s and were still a few years away from being willing to open up. Throw in this is a little kid asking. Once I served thou and they were aware they’re speaking to another vet. It opened doors previously off limits. The most 4 ever tight lipped were twin engine PTO drivers. After analyzing pics and videos of on the deck twin engine attack runs I grasp why them fellas rarely open up.

[@guycoulombe4547]

In about one or two years, there won't be any. John Clark, aged 100, and John Lucadoo, aged 101, are the last survivors of that group.

[@user-he8lr8cq6b]

John A. Clark is a living National Treasure. He is not only a gentleman, but an author, a statesman, and a brilliant mind (he holds a doctorate from MIT). It has been my privilege and personal pleasure to have known him for years. His recollections and his remarkable ability to relate his experiences are priceless. As president of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, I am honored to say the work of the Foundation is to preserve and perpetuate this legacy of service and sacrifice of the men of the "Bloody Hundredth."

[@ToddSauve]

How old is Mr. Clark and is he still alive?

[@user-he8lr8cq6b]

@@ToddSauve Thankfully, John A. Clark, a centenarian, is with us still.

[@ToddSauve]

@@user-he8lr8cq6b Excellent! And is his wife still alive too?

[@user-he8lr8cq6b]

Sadly, no.@@ToddSauve

[@purplecow5150]

that is amazing.

[@TheSniperGTO]

I’m 52. I served in the Army for 25 years. If you asked me to recite all my schools, the months I attended, the duration…I couldn’t do it. This guy is amazing.

[@billb89]

Same, I can give locations and month Year but not exact dates. Same with combat developments, just rough dates and locations. I've forgotten so much and regret not keeping a notebook.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

My GOODNESS I don’t think I have EVER heard a more concise and complete explanation of a flier’s experience since I became deeply interested in WWII. His memory is phenomenal. His detailed account of so many aspects of his experiences and roles (including meeting his equally accomplished wife 😊) was frankly riveting. Thank You Sir for sharing. I was born and raised in Michigan until my mid teens. My father attempted to join the war effort but was relegated to the Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes due to a bout of Scarlet fever as a child that weakened his heart. He passed young in his early forties as a result. He did help build a shipping line, the Browning Shipping line, owning and leasing several freighters with some of his brothers, and went on with them to own and run Bob-Lo and the ferries that transported the public from the foot of Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit to the island in the Detroit River. He would have loved your recollections. We have an Air Force member (pilot) in our family now and we are immensely proud of him.

[@paulprigge1209]

Merchant Marines were very special people in World War II still are. We could not have one WWII if it hadn’t been for merchant marines

[@daviddougan6961]

This is good stuff. God bless this fellow and the thousands like him !

[@jetpilot3714]

You have a very interesting and quite distinguished family background as well.

[@leonardlloyd1089]

There's a reason why they call this the greatest generation, THEY EARNED IT!!! Thank you all, and god bless!

[@janek3531]

John is not only an amazing speaker, he is an amazing person. God bless you, John.

[@thewhitestag33]

I’ve listened to a lot of veteran stories from WW2. This man stands out as very articulate and educated. Thank you to whoever captured this priceless interview

[@Chiller11]

What an excellent storyteller. Of course most of this generation is gone now, my father (15th Air Force) among them. It’s impossible to calculate the value of capturing their first hand experiences.

[@agray5688]

These interviews are immensely valuable.

[@xvsj5833]

I’m grateful for these men (heroes) !!! Thank you for your service, sacrifice and courage to stand up for freedom. ❤🇺🇸💪🏻

[@johnmichaelson9173]

I just wish that the modern-day Republicans would stand up for freedom. The likes of Tuberville blocking the promotions of 300 US service men & women for a year, smh. Now we have Mike Johnson blocking military Aid to Ukraine & military assistance to Israel. It's unbelievable that Johnson is blocking the help that the Ukrainians need to stop the Putin regime. Have the Republicans forgotten the lessons from WWII?

[@IanFieldhouse]

As a Englishman I would like to thank every American serviceman and women for what they did in WW2, your sacrifice will always be remembered. But please, not very English is a posh snob! We are working class too, as were most of the RAF, we are good people, who will always respect what you did and still do!

[@RemoWilliams1227]

I hate that there is any misperception. The English are our brothers and sisters, least that's how I see it.

[@IanFieldhouse]

@@RemoWilliams1227 and always will be

[@namcat53]

England forever!

[@jetpilot3714]

I feel most of us that have a proper understanding off WW2 history love our English countrymen. A lot of our success couldn’t have been possible without English support and its people.

[@IanFieldhouse]

Thank you all for your kind words of support

[@BeachHunter2024]

I could’ve listened to this guy all night, telling stories of what it was like in World War II…. They definitely were the greatest generation!

[@smhs1262]

He has a good memory and a very interesting story. I'm thankful for his honorable service to this country.

[@cmii9966]

I absolutely love listening to these heros, they instill duty, honor and country unlike any other generation and I served as a military aviator for 20 years. They responded to the call without hesitation, including my father and gave so much. Be grateful for this country and defend her as many are doing their best to destroy her during these trying times.

[@richardarmstrong6513]

I live just twenty minutes from the old Thorpe Abbots base in Norfolk in England, I've always been fascinated by WW2(my grandfather was in the Royal Air Force) there's a lovely memorial for them there. Their story really does deserved to be told, I'm so pleased Masters Of The Air gives everyone a chance to know their stories.

[@gibson617ajg]

I live a mile from the Rolls Royce facility where they fitted the first Merlin engine into a P51. They used to have 'family days' for the RR employees which usually involved a visit from a Mustang, Spitfire and, occasionally a Hurricane I remember standing on the runway threshold as a P51 came in to land - so low that I could could have counted the rivets in the wings . The BBMF Lancaster and Dakota came over frequently too during summer - using the airfield as a waypoint when flying to displays in the North. I remember one hot summer's day when the Dakota came over with the cargo door open and one of the crew in the back gave me a wave!

[@JohnMcDonald-ef5gz]

"Badass'' is a word thrown around a lot. Often by people who never really earned the right to call themselves that. Piloting a four engine bomber through enemy fighters and flak , obliterating half a city time and again and living to tell about it eighty years later is about as badass as it gets.

[@stephenlee3390]

had a patient who had been a pilot in the Bloody 100th. It started with me asking if he still flew airplanes. He said no and this is why. Every crew got a 3 day pass once every 6-8 weeks I think he said. Well his 1st pass was during the Sweinfurt raid.When the got back from London the barrack was empty, every crew was shot down. During his next pass, all but the lead plane was shot down. He said he was not going to press his luck, so once he got back to the states he never got in a plane again.

[@1armeddrummerinaprisonrock244]

As a teenager I found a crashsite of a B-17 from 350th BombSquadron/100th BombGroup from the Schweinfurt-Raid of 17th August 1943 in Germany, the ground was littered with parts of the plane. I also found a shoesole from one of the airmen. Later I researched that the crew got out and became POWs, but one man was killed in air, he got shot in his chest by a 20mm round from a german fighter. He was identified by the pilot and later transfered to an american cementry. The planes name was B-17 42-30070 / Tweedle-O-Twill

[@johnmichaelson9173]

Sending them in the daytime was tantamount to murder or manslaughter. The Brits told them they were underestimating the Germans & by flying in the daytime they'd be taking an unacceptable amount of casualties but they wouldn't listen.

[@clyde8drive]

Fascinating. The Greatest Generation 100%. To have the recall at his age is wonderful so we can hear his story first hand.

[@charlessaint7926]

This man here spoke more in thirty minutes than I ever got out of my own grandfather, when he was still alive. My grandfather spent thirty-years in the Army, through three wars. The tail end of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Always proud of his service, even encouraging me to join, saying, "Give the Army twenty years and they'll take care of you the rest of your life!" However, when you ask him about his time in the Army, he would give vague answers. "I was on Guam and Japan. A year in Saigon," and change the subject. The most I ever talked about Vietnam came when we were watching a movie, I think it was Apocalypse Now, because Grandpa said, "I hitched some rides with those guys (Brown Water Navy). They let me fire their guns into the jungle and into some hooches. Don't know if I hit anybody." Grandpa was a supply sergeant. Not Navy SEALs, Special Forces, a sniper, or anything grand. Just a humble supply sergeant. If anything that made him better. The man never graduated high school, but he knew how to play the game. As a supply sergeant he had friends all over. Knew how to pull strings and gain favors. If you needed something, Grandpa was the man to go to. I don't know how he did it, but if you needed something-he would get it. Growing up, Grandpa being reluctant to talk about his service led me to believe that he did something horrible, or he did something that he regretted, that it made him be silent. It took me going to Iraq to understand why Grandpa didn't talk about Vietnam.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

I used to go to the VFW Saturday breakfasts with my granny in the early 90s. All my great uncles and the other old timers sat together off from the rest of the congregation... Granny always told me not to bother them because I suspect that was the only time they felt comfortable talking about the war, with each other. My papa was in the Ardennes during the Bulge. I can't imagine going through that as an 18yo boy.

[@jeremyronald]

Mr. Clark, if you ever see this, hello from a fellow Michigander! I used to be a groundskeeper & maintenance specialist at Fort Custer and one of my favorite pasttimes was to walk the old ranges with a metal detector and find old pins and to feel around for the slugs, to which I found a number of 30 caliber & 45 caliber slugs. My current job has me working in the metro Detroit area, including Royal Oak, every day but Sunday! It brought me joy to hear you refer to those 2 cities, especially Battle Creek. Thank you for your service, welcome home, and God Bless!

[@leth9320]

What a delightful, witty, coherant, gentleman this is. Thank you for your service Sir, from a grateful Brit.

[@395er]

Dr. Clark, an amazing American Hero! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@kennethsloboda4958]

As soon as you choked up when noticing this good looking lady with wings on her uniform I had a feeling that was you future wife Sir, TRULY AWESOME 💕

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Thank You for giving us your memories and experience and, of course..for Your Service.😍💪🇺🇸

[@christiancruz4533]

Amazing. Such respect for those who fought in WW2

[@jwill313rd5]

Brave souls my grandmother was 17 in Germany when the war ended she just passed away a couple years ago. She had some stories and am glad to have been able to listen. Being able to listen to real people who really experienced it is the best way to really understand. Great work to those who documented and continue to do their best to remind future generations.

[@Laminar-Flow]

My grandfather flew the C-87 on almost 90 missions over The Hump. He told me that a few times he flew cargo personally for Chiang Kai-shek and his family- like western soap, toothpaste, and such. I’ll never get sick of hearing accounts from WW2 aviators.

[@wampaproductions1152]

i love this and love him, as a 17 year old I loved to listen to stories from my ww2 veteran grandfather, and this man has many interesting stories to tell, I hope he knows how appreciated he is!

[@SeriouslyJaded]

Absolutely amazing stories of such a horrific time in our history that movies just cannot capture fully. Thank you.

[@merrylmarsh9037]

A grand old gentleman!!! So articulate!! Thanks for telling us your experiences❤

[@timf2279]

Anyone noticed on the drive home on December 7th that they had to wait until they got home to listen to the radio. A radio in the car was a luxury item.

[@yaddar]

the woman at 4:47 was DASHING, what a lucky guy he was.

[@bobgrewe988]

My uncle was a copilot on a B-17 who was shot down an a POW for six months. He would not say much about it. He’s gone now, God bless him and his brothers.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

All of my great uncles served in the pacific... None of them ever once talked about it.

[@left-hand-threaded]

Lies

[@Elis_Gallacher]

⁠@@BobbyGeneric145 Yeah, my great grandfather fought in Finland and on the other side of my family my great grandfather fought against the Germans, none of them ever wanted to speak about it. May they rest in peace.

[@Elis_Gallacher]

@@left-hand-threaded Insanely disrespectful. Piss off.

[@RemoWilliams1227]

​@@BobbyGeneric145my maternal grandfather was on a destroyer at Midway. He was the kindest man I've ever known. Never ever spoke a word of war... The tattoos gave it away though, he had a bald eagle clutching a bundle of arrows.

[@brianrobertson1211]

Thank you sir for your dedication to America's freedom.

[@johndyson4109]

My Father was in th Army Aircorps in WWII. He was a radio operator in a DC-3 flying over the hump from India to China.. The flying Tigers escorted their planes..

[@ChristopherWHerbert]

The word Flak is of German origin and short for Fliegerabwehrkanone, literally ‘aviator-defence gun’

[@peteparker7396]

The greatest generation!

[@johnnunn8688]

The amazing generation. Thank you, sir, for your service and story.

[@jamespike5161]

This channel is ESSENTIAL and its record must be preserved. We’re the first generations that will have the privilege of creating CATEGORICAL, almost encyclopaedic historical records from primary sources. The value this will provide to future generations is IMMEASURABLE. Imagine if we’d had this through all of history? Edit: His anecdote about the Mustang pilot with a cigar is just too great. Main character energy.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

One word, wow! Thanks sharing, sir.

[@richardyoder3646]

This has to be the best interview I've ever heard. Thank you for your service sir

[@Cornelldsc]

Wonderful interview. I am so grateful that people are still here and able to share first-hand accounts. This man is amazing.

[@JohnThreeSixteen918]

Brilliant...could listen to this all day long...pity the interview had to come to an end. 👏

[@Solhai]

Wonderful interview. Grateful for the time it takes to recall such memories of service.

[@jek9911]

Wow. How sharp he is!

[@TheStr5010]

Listening to this gentleman is just incredible. What a life and thank God for him and that his experiences are recorded.

[@BAYBAY_316]

Thank you Mr. Clark for your service and all that you and your crew did for us.

[@Cainer444]

This is a great interview. He helps explain so many of the plane's and the crew's operations. Thank you for your service, sir!

[@user-qt1kb2lp6f]

He is great. I could listen to his day to day stories anytime.

[@kitharrison8799]

I could listen to this man for a long time. This video's a treasure, like all of them.

[@flanerpete2040]

Awesome recollection and very informative in a subject that reflects a time in history that defined bravery! Thank you for your service, John!

[@realwealthproperties5671]

That was a great interview! What a great guy!

[@alexanderson4900]

God bless this man!!! I’m so so sorry for your lost friends. Thank you for all you did. Love you and thank you for all your sacrifices.

[@TictacAddict1]

You and your wife were a lovely couple. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@wimsele]

❤ Thank you for including this brave individual's explanation of "feathering" and the "Togeler' I've been hearing these very often during these type of B17 interviews.

[@robzilla60]

Fantastic story. He is still this sharp as he was during the war. I was enthralled the whole time.

[@Convoycrazy]

Great interview - as always, wish it were longer 🇺🇸 Thank you John, I enjoyed hearing your story

[@theathletearchives]

Now I understand the use of "feathering" in Masters of the Air. Great video!

[@romaparte]

Gods, do I wish they had gotten these interviews woven into the series.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Thank you for the interview

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

This is equal parts mesmerizing and haunting.

[@macswad]

Excellent Interview - to explain oil pump > prop feathering > wind milling - thankyou

[@ganstaevo]

Thank you for your service!

[@AlmostDailyRider]

Much respect John. The greatest generation!

[@FlowerChild65]

Having recently finished the TV series, I've been going through and watching accounts of the surviving members. It's so vital that we get as many of their stories recorded as possible, so that we never forget. This was such a helpful interview, because John was able to explain the formations so well. It was something I had trouble understanding visually and spatially when watching the series so this really helped. I had no idea that there were hundreds of planes on these missions. Wow!

[@markthorne5025]

God bless him .I'm from England and many 8th Airforce bases were in Norfolk ,Suffolk England met some of the crews that came back to visit in early 90s so young 19 ,22 years old flying B17 B24s. Many struck up friendships with the locals .Thank you for the Greatest Generation 🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@dpault]

One of the best I've heard. Tremendous learning experience.

[@americanveteranscenter]

He's incredible! Thank you for watching!

[@jabthejedi]

Very important interview.

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

I love hearing the stories from these heros. I was too young I guess for my Dad to talk about his 5 missions on a B-17 before getting shot down on 10/10/43. New subscriber here...

[@easyyog1185]

Thank You for Your Service, unending Courage. and great Generosity to share Stories. The Book and Series are Amazing and wonderful addition this Epic History, the Bravery and Skill required Day after Day - for Today, and Future Generations. wonderfully done.

[@charlesbland1073]

A great explanation of feathering the propeller starting close to 18:45 on the timeline.

[@danparris6497]

Ultimate respect sir , thank you x

[@CDN296]

binged it last night , great show

[@boeing-lt4el]

It's telling that a man that has seen everything only gets chocked up by two things - seeing his wife for the first time and seeing those gorgeous P-51 Mustangs form up on his wing.

[@Filscout]

"Cadillac of the Sky" P51

[@ronaldwarren5220]

God bless you and all your heroic brothers.

[@johngrogan7585]

Thank you Sir

[@haroldmclean3755]

A Very interesting account of His Service during WW2 , Sky High Kudos ✈️👍

[@jackson857]

Love the story about the fighter pilot and the cigar.

[@bobjosephs]

My father was a pilot for the 305th Bomb group and like many vets rarely talked about his combat experiences. I have learned more by reading Master's of the Air and similar books and watching the first three episodes of the series as to what it was like

[@zachw611]

My grandfather was a navigator in the 305th. I have found out a lot of info on missions he went on and even found pictures online.

[@JonHullock]

What a fantastic video.

[@Potatodrumcrow]

I’m thankful for these series because someday they won’t be living on earth anymore. It’s important to have this history.

[@johnshaw7562]

My dad was a b24 pilot in 1943 into 1944. I believe the 448th. Completed his 30 missions. John’s description here is one of the most informative talks of training and combat I have heard.

[@anlerden4851]

Thank You so much for your service and lovely dedications to Our Beautiful USA Dear American Sir.🥰😍🤗❤🤍💙💯💪🙏👍

[@davidwilkins7750]

Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences with us! I live close to Dyersburg, TN which was mentioned as a B-17 flight/formation training base. I assume the base was Arnold Field at Halls, TN, just down the road from Dyersburg. I've been there many times and thought about what it must have looked like with the acres and acres of concrete ramp covered up with B-17s. There is a small museum there dedicated to the base as it was in WW2.

[@piercer2]

Beautiful couple. That’s the best part of the story

[@sr633]

So much real iinformation ! Great.

[@anthonyalcala2850]

True HERO thanks for your service

[@craigw.scribner6490]

Thanks!

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

What a great man! ❤ He is definitely very articulate and I love his story! Thank God for men like him!! Because it is indeed still The Greatest Generation To Have Ever Walked The Earth!! ❤🇺🇸🙏💙 God Bless him and Every Single WW2 Veteran!!

[@matydrum]

The p-51 mustang cigare smoking commander calling on the radio was such cool story!

[@johnnunn8688]

Camp Custer became Fort Custer, 17 Aug ‘40.

[@sheilatruax6172]

Is it named for George Armstrong, Yellow Hair? Always wondered.

[@johnnunn8688]

@@sheilatruax6172 Col George Armstrong Custer, yes, of course. I was referring to his dates being wrong; him arriving at ‘Camp’ Custer but it was ‘Fort’ by the time he arrived there.

[@sheilatruax6172]

@@johnnunn8688 Thank you. Learn something new every day.

[@Katwiccan]

​@@sheilatruax6172 George Custer was born in Monroe, Michigan

[@Starkiller818]

This men are the most bravest men i ever seen. to get drafted and have to see the horror they saw at war and still move on from that. Last great generation. R.I.P Men and Service women of that time. You will be miss but not forgotten.

[@PaddyThePaddy]

John is AMAZING. I’ve known him since 2015 when I attended the 100th Bomb Group reunion in New Orleans with a veteran from here in Cincinnati by the name of Frank Buschmeier, who was a waist gunner in the 350th squadron and a dear close friend.

[@beverly429]

Oh my goodness, my Dad was stationed in Dyersburg Tn he was an engine mechanic working on the B-17's. He was there twice during WWII

[@logancrump1002]

My great great grandfather Ted Hines was a bomber during ww2. I wish I had been old enough to of talked to him to here stories

[@danam0228]

Lol, "well, I couldn't let that go by"

[@leerich8758]

Bravest of the brave these men.

[@tomstarcevich1147]

Awesome 👌 👏 👍

[@cards0486]

Tom Brokaw should have copyrighted the phrase “The Greatest Generation”. Nothing yet has replaced those three words as the perfect description of the WW II generation; both in battle and at home. My dad was young enough that he just got in the position to be posted in 1945. He was set to be deployed to Japan to end it. He was in the Pacific Northwest preparing to ship over. Fortunately President Truman took care of Japan. Instead Daddy was in the occupation of Germany. So he never saw battle. During Vietnam he would say he couldn’t figure out what was wrong with these guys when they came home. Why did they need to talk about it? Coming home from Europe or the Pacific Theater nobody talked about it. It just wasn’t done. They went on with their life. “It’s just different, Daddy. This is a different kind of war.” He could never see that.

[@eamo106]

Brilliant Sir, I am sure you have passed. I learned two new things, 1st that the crew had a Mechanic aboard, Second about the Co pilot and tail detail which you refused. it makes all the sense in the world to have a mechanic aboard / top turret gunner. You are a hero.

[@ian7675]

Says it was filmed December 23.

[@eamo106]

@@ian7675 idk , I worked in Mines and Oilfield all my life and we always had a mechanic on the team wen we did well. It would make sense that a mechanic was part of a crew. Not ever mentioned in history ?