John W. Clark 2 March 1923

TWO MEN KILLED IN PLANE CRASH AT MALAD FAIRGROUNDS

Jack Clark, 25, and Max Thomas, 22, were killed Friday afternoon (18 June 1948) when the J-3 Piper cub, in which they were flying, crashed and burned at the Oneida fairgrounds.

The plane, piloted by Mr. Clark struck a power line very close to the ground when in a right turn, went out of control and struck the ground about a 100 yards beyond the line. It immediately burst into flames. Rescuers were able to remove Mr. Thomas from the wreckage but were unable to get to Mr. Clark who apparently died seconds after the crash. Mr. Thomas was taken to the Oneida hospital and died at 6 p.m. of third degree burns.

The men had taken off from the Malad airport at 1:45 p.m. for a local flight in the plane which was owned by Milton Whitworth.

Max, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thomas, was born April 9, 1926 in Malad. He attended Malad high school and entered the U. S. Army, Jan. 25, 1946. After seven months service on Guam, he was discharged April 24, 1947. He was employed by his father at the time of his death. In addition to his parents he is survived by a brother, Monte; two sisters, Mrs. Fay Jones and Norma Thomas; three grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thomas and Mrs. David Gibson, all of Malad.

Jack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. D. Clark, was born March 2, 1923 in Malad. He was a graduate of the Malad high school and while attending U.C.L.A. enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served as a pilot in the South Pacific and was discharged March 20, 1946. He was recently commissioned a captain in the USMC. He attended the University of Idaho until two months ago. Survivors include his parents and a grandmother, Mrs. Julia Covert.

His death was the second air tragedy to strike the family. A bother, Lt. Tim Clark, also a Marine pilot, died in a crash in the South Pacific when on a mission near the cost of Japan. The two were Mrs. and Mrs. Clark’s only children.