Donald Ernest Kark
MilitaryConnections
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Units served with
![Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck of the 365th Fighter Group wearing a flying helmet with devil horns in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Screamin' Weemie". Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYER WEARS "DEVIL'S HELMET" Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck, 27, commander of a Ninth US Air Force fighter group, waves for contact after donning his "devil's helmet" for a mission against the Nazis. The flyer calls his plane "Screaming' Weemie". Keys](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456675.jpg.webp?itok=5tRnsRWh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Marian
- Unit: 365th Fighter Group 387th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Fontanay-Sur-Mer
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RAF Beaulieu
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Brétigny-sur-Orge
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Chièvres Air Base
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Spencer, IA | 16 November 1922 | |
|
Other Aerial Victory |
in the vicninty of Hadamar, Germany | 21 October 1944 | 1 - FW 190 |
|
Died |
Blue Earth, MN | 15 November 2006 | Blue Earth Donald Ernest Kark, age 93 passed away peacefully on Nov. 15, 2016 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth. He was born Nov. 16, 1922 the oldest son of Emil E. Kark and Flora Bowman Kark. Don lived most of his life in Blue Earth before moving to Fort Myers, Florida after retirement in 1988. Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth from 3-6 p.m. with the memorial service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Earth at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Don graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1941 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter for one year. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in preparation for military service in WWII. He was trained as a P-47 fighter pilot and flew 97 missions in the European Theater of the War. Two of these missions were flown during the Normandy D-Day Invasion. He attained the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the air medal with clusters and the Presidential Citation. After the end of WWII in Europe Don returned to Blue Earth and married Marian E. Sattre on Aug. 13, 1945. He assumed management of the family business, Blue Earth Rendering Co. and Kark’s Appetizer Feed Co. In 1956 he became a partner in the Hi-Way Ford auto dealership in Blue Earth. He served on the Board of Directors for Blue Earth State Bank for 35 years. Don was also co-manager of family owned rendering plants in Marianna, Florida, Dothan, Alabama, and Osage, Iowa. He was a life member of the American Legion and the VFW. Don was also a member of Kiwanis Club and Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA, Blue Earth. Don loved airplanes and enjoyed flying. He continued to fly for both business and pleasure for more than 50 years. Many of his fondest memories were attending reunions each year for his P-47 Pilots Association. During retirement Don and Marian were also fortunate with their travels to all parts of the world. Don’s family was a very important part of his life. He and Marian moved back to Blue Earth in December 2014 to be closer to their family and relatives. |
| Blue Earth, MN |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
"Thunderbolts of The Hell Hawks" - Barnes, Crump and Sutherland, page 81
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
"Thunderbolts of The Hell Hawks" - Barnes, Crump and Sutherland, page 81
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes