Local Tuskegee Airman remembered as "true hero" | News

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Clarence Dart might be viewed as the best the "Greatest Generation" had to offer.

Growing up poor during the Great Depression in Elmira, Dart always wanted to be a pilot, but it wasn't easy. He had to overcome a society that viewed black men as intellectually inferior and incapable of piloting airplanes.

"When we first started escort for the bombers some of them didn't want us," said Dart during an interview in 2007. "But when they started losing people and we showed them that we were keeping the German fighters away from them,then they started asking for us."

Dart was part of the now-famous, all-black Tuskegee Airmen.

A recent film, Red Tails, tells the story of their legendary success---never losing a bomber to enemy fire. Dart saw the debut of the movie with his family and received a standing ovation in the theater at the Wilton Mall.

Dart flew an astonishing 95 missions and survived being shot down twice.

A recipient of this country's most prestigious military honors, Dart passed away Friday at the age of 91.

Clarence Dart's family says the unassuming gentleman only shared stories of his heroics late in life, and only when asked.

As a steady stream paid their respects during Monday's calling hours, Dart's son, Warren, took a few moments to tell NewsChannel 13 how he'll remember his father.

"In my view, men and women who do things like what my father has done for their country, for their communities, those are the true heroes," he said.

Lt. Colonel Clarence Dart was buried Tuesday morning with honors befitting a military hero.