Date of birth:

March 14th, 1917 (St. Maries/Idaho, United States)

Date of death:

November 17th, 2002 (Richland/Washington, United States)

Nationality:

American

Clayton Campbell was born on 14th March 1917 in Saint Maries, Idaho as son of Fred D. And Harriet (Boettcher) Campbell. In 1935 he graduated from the Orofino Highschool and in June 1940 from the University of Idaho. That same month he enlisted at Fort Wright, Spokane, Washington and graduated from the Pan America’s second navigation class and was commissioned in May 1941. On 10th June 1941 he married Mary Stevens in Moscow, Idaho. Campbell was at first placed at Tacoma, Fort Lewis and later on Pendleton Field, Oregon. Campbell volunteered and took part in the famous Doolittle-raid on Tokyo and remained to service in the China-Burma-india Theatre with the Flying Tigers throughout the war as a squadron navigator for the B-25 bomber group. He completed a total of 250 combat hours. Later he returned to Boise and teached navigation at the Mt. Home Air Force Base. In December 1945 he was released from active duty. He remained in the Air Force Reserve and finally retired as Lieutenant Colonel.

After his military life he started working as a carpenter, build houses ans finishing wood work and cabinetry. He designed and build his own house in Boise.
Clayton Campbell died on 17th November 2002 and was buried at the Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise, Idaho, Section East Block 3 Plot 4-H2.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

First American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers", Republic of China Air Force

Awarded on:

May 3rd, 1942

DFC notice:
"While participating in an aerial flight and raid on the Japanese mainland April 18, 1942, while serving as first lieutenant, Air Corps, United States Army."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Unit:

First American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers", Republic of China Air Force

Awarded on:

May 4th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

First American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers", Republic of China Air Force

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1942

"On July 16, 1942, this crew participated in a raid against the Japanese Concession in Hankow, China. The actual bombing of Hankow was performed in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, but so precisely did every member of this crew perform his assigned duties, that every bomb dropped was seen to land directly in the target area. This one mission was responsible for the destruction of large quantities of gasoline and other war supplies, in addition to everal hundred enemy casualties, and further resulted in shattering the enemys' confidence in their protection against air raids, as evidenced by Chinese Intelligence reports confirming the results of this raid. Such gallantry in action in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire while carrying out a successful attack in an area known to be defended by superio numbers of enemy fighters is characteristic of the finest traditions of the Army Air Forces."

General Orders No. 19, Headquarters China Air Task Force, 20th December 1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: U.S. Army Photo
• - The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders
  - General Orders No. 19, Headquarters China Air Task Force, 20th December 1942