Laurence Maurice "Buck" Clark

    I don't have a lot of early family pictures of Buck although I have asked the members of the family who might have some in their collections to loan them long enough for me to digitize them. Some that have surfaced are below.

    Buck had developed an interest in flying even before going north to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. According to some family stories he started taking flying lessons out in the Mojave Desert from the legendary Pancho Barnes. If you don't already know the history of this remarkable woman be sure to visit her website. To visit the Pancho Barnes website click HERE.

    Buck's cousin Hank Wilson who appears in the fourth picture below was also a pilot during the war. Hank flew the A-26 Invader "Jig-Mite" in the Pacific theater. Click HERE for a photo of Hank and "Jig-Mite." After the war Hank became a well know political cartoonist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Janet, Diane & Buck The back of this photo says "October 2, 1932, Rosewood Street, Hollywood." It was probably taken in the yard of the house where my grandparenst were then living. My mother, Janet, would have been just 14 at the time though she looks far more mature.	Theater Usher Buck worked as a theater usher and doorman during and after high school. This picture is dated 1935 on the back.	Horseman This photo is dated 1940 on the back. At about this time Buck was spending time learning to fly with the infamous Pancho Barnes out in the Mojave desert. Pancho also had horses so the assumption is that he was also riding out there. Check out the Pancho Barnes website.
Buck's Clan This family photo is undated, but the back says "Gale Drive, Beverly Hills." Left to right are Diane, Buck, cousin Betty Jean, my mother Janet, and cousin Hank. Hank was also a pilot in the Pacific theater of WWII. See the link above.