There is a new memorial bench in Saratoga Springs' Congress Park -- community friends joined together to honor Tuskegee Airman LT. COLONEL CLARENCE W. DART, SR.! Dart was a World War II fighter pilot, who flew a total of 95 missions; shot down twice, and was awarded five Distinguished Flying Crosses, an Air Medal, a Victory Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal, as well as two Purple Hearts. Dart, along with 300 of his fellow Airmen, received a Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. In 2011, Dart was bestowed several honors and citations by the New York State Senate, Assembly, Saratoga County, and city of Saratoga Springs, as well as being inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Having rose to the rank of Captain during the war, Dart went on to train pilots back in Tuskegee, AL, before studying aeronautics in CA. Originally from Elmira, NY, Dart settled in Saratoga Springs to raise his family of 5 daughters and 2 sons, while working for GE in Schenectady -- 39 years later, he retired from Knolls Atomic Power Lab in 1987.

Meanwhile, Dart continued to serve as an Air National Guard Reservist, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was also Emeritus on the Saratoga Springs’ Salvation Army Advisory Board, which he had served since 1963. Born Dec. 6, 1920, Clarence Dart was married to M. Mildred (Jackson) Dart for 61 years. He died February 17th, 2012 and was laid to rest with full military honors – he was 91.

LEARN MORE about Saratoga Spring's rich history of our BIPOC communities through MLK Saratoga's OURstory Treasure Hunt:
www.mlksaratoga.org/treasure-hunt

Resource:
https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-clarence-w-dart

#BlackHistoryMonth
#TuskegeeAirmen
#OURstoryTreasureHunt