Lieutenant Clayton J. Campbell

Clayton Campbell served as a B-25 Mitchell navigator with the 37th Bomb Squadron at Pendleton Field, Oregon, from June 1941 until he was selected for the Doolittle Mission in February 1942.

Campbell was the navigator on the 13th B-25 plane (Crew 13) to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) on April 18, 1942.

Clayton Campbell was born on 14 March 1917 in Saint Maries, Idaho as son of Fred D. And Harriet (Boettcher) Campbell. While growing up, his family lived in Chelan and Spokane, Washington, and then in Moscow and Orofino, Idaho. In 1935 he graduated from the Orofino Highschool and in June 1940 from the University of Idaho where he studied architecture. He was a member of the Chi Alpha Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternities. That spring he became engaged to Mary Stevens.

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 10 June 1941 he married Mary Stevens in Moscow, Idaho. He met Mary during his college years. 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. The couple had 5 children.

Far right, Clayton Campbell.

When the war was ver 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.

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

As he saw action as a Doolittle raider his missed the birth of his first son.

Crew 13 in China. Left to right: Clayton J. Campbell, Adam R. Williams, Edgar E. McElroy, and Robert C. Bourgeois after being found by Chinese soldiers and civilians. Far left you see Richard Knoloch's leg.

Silver Star Citationt:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Clayton J. Campbell (ASN: 0-419237), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as member of an air crew of the TENTH Air Force, while participating in a raid against the Japanese Concession in Hankow, China, on 16 July 1942. 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 several hundred enemy casualties, and further resulted in shattering the enemy’s 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 superior numbers of enemy fighters is characteristic of the finest traditions of the Army Air Forces.

During his reirement he also enjoyed hunting and was a skilled and successful elk hunter. He always raised a large garden, which supplied ample vegetables for family and friends. He was appreciated for his ability to repair almost anything. For years he served on the property committee of First Presbyterian Church of Boise, remodeling rooms and keeping the big oak doors in working order.

He and Mary celebrated their 60th anniversary at their church in 2001. Clayton and his family were also long time members of the Scandinavian Society.

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