Commander Peter Lloyd Clark, DFC, RANR was born on 26 April 1947.
He joined the RAN in July 1966 as a Midshipman, serving first at HMAS Cerberus for Basic Training. Having successfully completed Flight Grading at the Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin (Victoria), he was assessed as suitable for pilot training and was sent to Pensacola (Florida) at the end of 1966 to stream though the United States Navy aircrew training program.
On return from the U.S., Peter joined 723 Squadron for the Helicopter Flight Vietnam. There, he flew 1200 hours in his 12 months’ detachment, was an Air Mission Commander and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Back in Australia he joined 724 Squadron for jet conversion (on the Macchi), a notable event as he and his instructor had to eject on his first flight. Several appointments followed, including to 805 Squadron flying the Douglas Skyhawk and, for his final full-time posting, as Commander (Air) of NAS Nowra.
He left the Navy in 1986 after twenty years and joined Lloyd Aircraft Jet Charter, flying Lear Jets out of Nowra. A little later he joined National Jet Systems. He spent some some flying the BAe146 on a Qantaslink contract from Canberra, before being appointed as General Manager Business Strategy at National Jet’s HQ in Adelaide, and subsequently General Manager Operations.
Peter had retired to Alexandra Headland in Queensland due to ill health and was enjoying surfing, fishing, golf and boating. He was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour (Glioblastoma Multiforme) in October 2005 and succumbed in November 2006. He was only 59 years old.
He is survived by Vicki, Jenny and Brad, Gillian and Thomas and his five grandchildren, and his partner Gayle.
Peter Lloyd Clark will be remembered as one of a breed of young Fleet Air Arm Officers who returned from active service in Vietnam, battle hardened and not at all interested in the minutiae of bureaucracy. He will always be remembered both in the FAA and in the broader Aviation community as a brilliant pilot, a natural leader and a good friend to many.
