Clayton Bissel graduated from law school in 1917 but joined the Air Service, becoming an ace in combat in France during the First World War. Awarded a regular commission in 1920, he was assistant to Brigadier General "Billy" Mitchell for four years, spent five years as a flight instructor, and attended the War College. He was serving with the War Plans Division when war broke out in the Pacific.
In 1942, Bissel became Stilwell’s air chief. This brought him into conflict with Chennault, the maverick leader of the Flying Tigers. Chennault despised Stilwell and quickly grew to despise Bissel as well. Things got so bad that Chennault eventually received his own air force command, the 14th, while Bissel remained in command of 10 Air Force. In August of 1943, Bissel returned to the United States and worked in intelligence for the remainder of the war.
Bissel admitted to Congress in 1950 that he had
helped cover up the Katyn massacre
by the Russians through misuse of
classification.
| 1896
|
Born in Kane, Pennsylvania |
|
| 1917 |
Awarded juris doctor from Valparaiso University, Indiana |
|
| 1917-9 |
Flight training, Mohawk, Canada |
|
| 1917-11 |
Taliaferro Field, Texas |
|
| 1918-1-12 |
First
lieutenant |
Commissioned into Aviation
Section, Signal Reserve. Assigned to 22 Aero Squadron. |
| 1918-7 |
148 Aero Squadron, France |
|
| 1918 |
Commander, 638 American Fighter
Squadron, Germany |
|
| 1919-5 |
Commander, 27 Aero Squadron,
Kelly Field, Texas |
|
| 1920-1 |
Commander, Air Service Group,
Kelly Field |
|
| 1920-6 |
Chief, Tactical Operations
Section, Air Service |
|
| 1920-7-1 |
Awarded regular commission |
|
| 1920-12 |
Air Service Field Officers'
School |
|
| 1921-6 |
Commander, 14 Squadron |
|
| 1921-11 |
Assistant, Chief of the Air
Service |
|
| 1924-12 |
Secretary, Air Service Board |
|
| 1926-9 |
Instructor, Air Corps Tactical
School |
|
| 1930-11-1 |
Captain |
|
| 1931-8 |
Command and General Staf School |
|
| 1933-8 |
Army War College |
|
| 1934-7 |
Chemical Warfare School |
|
| 1934-10 |
Intelligence and operations
officer, 18 Pursuit Group, Oahu |
|
| 1935-3-12 |
Major |
|
| 1937-10 |
Commander, 18 Pursuit Group |
|
| 1938-7 |
Naval War College |
|
| 1939-7 |
War Plans Division, War Department General Staff | |
| 1940-11-16 |
Lieutenant
colonel |
|
| 1942-1-5 |
Colonel |
Aviation officer, China-Burma-India Theater |
| 1942-4-21 |
Brigadier general |
|
| 1942-8-18
|
Commander, 10 Air Force |
|
| 1943-3-13 |
Major
general |
|
| 1943-8-19 |
A2, Headquarters, Army Air Forces |
|
| 1944-2-7 |
G2, War Department General Staff |
|
| 1946-5 |
Air attache, Britain |
|
| 1948-2-19 |
Brigadier general (permanent) | |
| 1948-11 |
Headquarters, United States Air
Forces in Europe |
|
| 1950 |
Retires |
|
| 1973-1-1 |
Dies |
References
Air Force Link (accessed 2008-1-14)
Tuchman (1972)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007-2008 by Kent G. Budge. Index