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Clayton Campbell was one of the 80 airmen who, under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, disembarked from the U.S.S. Hornet in the first bombing raid over Tokyo in World War II. Following the mission he continued to fly combat in China earning a Silver Star in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross he earned in the Doolittle Raid.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force

    Action Date:

    April 18, 1942

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Clayton J. Campbell (ASN: 0-419237), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Navigator of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Campbell with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    341st Bombardment Group (M)

    Division:

    10th Air Force

    Action Date:

    July 16, 1942

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

    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 John Campbell (ASN: 0-419237), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Navigator of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber of the 341st Bombardment Group (Medium), 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.