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Adapted from "Rear Admiral Joseph C. Clifton, United States Navy, Deceased" [biography, dated 5 January 1968] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Joseph Clinton Clifton

31 October 1908-24 December 1967

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Born October 31, 1908 in Paducah, Kentucky, Joseph Clinton Clifton attended the University of Kentucky prior to entering the US Naval Academy in 1926. While at the Academy he was a member of the varsity football team during the ’27, ’28 and ’29 seasons. His outstanding ability on the football field was nationally recognized his senior year when he was named All-Eastern and honorable mention All-American.

His early naval service included duty aboard the battleship Tennessee, followed by flight at Pensacola, Florida. Later he served as a naval aviator with Scouting Squadron Three on the aircraft carrier Saratoga, and with Scouting Squadron Ten on the cruiser Trenton. He was Gunnery and Engineering Officer of Fighter Squadron Four on the carrier Ranger when that ship won gunnery trophy for the Fleet in 1939. At the outbreak of World War II he was serving as Flight Training Officer at the Naval Air Station, Miami.

In September 1942, while he was the Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron Twelve on the USS Saratoga (CV-3), his unit participating in the first strike in the highly fortified harbor of Rabaul. In January 1944 he became Commander of Air Group Twelve aboard the carrier Saratoga. For heroism and extraordinary achievement in those command, he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and twice awarded the Legion of Merit, Credited with five Japanese planes, he also was awarded the Air Medal, and for services as Commander of the Combined Air Groups from HMS Illustrious and USS Saratoga, was mentioned in dispatched and awarded the Distinguished Service Order by the British Government.

During the last year of the war he served as Fighting Training Officer at the Naval Air Station, Green Cove Springs, Florida and as Executive Officer and the USS Wasp. Briefly, in 1946, he was both Commanding Officer and Executive Officer of that carrier. After a tour of duty in the Air Warfare Division of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), he had brief duty early in 1949 on the Staff of Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wings, Pacific, and from June 1949 to December 1951 was Commander of Transport Squadron Eight.

In December 1951 he became Commander Officer of the USS Corson, a seaplane tender assigned to patrol duty on the Formosa Straits during the Korean conflict. He served as Deputy of Staff for Training on the Staff of the Commander, Air Force, US Pacific Fleet for eight months.

Instruction at the Naval War College preceded his assignment in July 1954 as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station, Memphis, Tennessee. On December 5, 1956 he assumed a “Three Hat” assignment as Commander, Airborne Early Warning Wing, Atlantic, and Commander, Fleet Air Detachment, Argentina, with additional duty as Commander Barrier, Atlantic Fleet. He was Chief of Naval Air Advanced Training, with headquarters at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, from March 1958 until February 1960, and the next month became Commander Division Seven.

In May 1961 he reported as Chief of Naval Air Technical Training with headquarters at the Naval Air Station, Memphis, Tennessee, and continued to serve as such until relived of all active duty pending his retirement, effective July 1, 1963. Rear Admiral Clifton died on December 24, 1967, in Santa Monica, California.

Personal Data:

Born: Paducah, Kentucky, 10/31/08

Parents: Tom C. and Pearl Cook Clifton

Widow: Mrs. Virginia Cobb (Silleck) Clifton, 487 North Bundy Drive, Los Angles, California

Education:  University of Kentucky, ½ year; U.S. Naval Academy (BS, 1930); Flight Training, NAS, Pensacola, Fla. (Naval Aviator, 3/32); Naval War College (1954)

Special Achievements: Eagle Scout; Scout Commissioner; Special Events Speaker; All-Eastern Fullback, (1929); Honorable Mention, All- American Fullback (1928 & 1929).

Hobbies: Sports; Golf; Hunting; Fishing; Racquet Squash; Youth Activities

Promotions:

Commissioned Ensign, 6/5/30

Lieutenant (jg), 6/5/33

Lieutenant Commander, 6/15/42

Commander, 8/20/43

Captain, (T), 3/4/46

Captain, (P), 7/1/57

Rear Admiral, to date from 7/1/58

Retired, 7/1/63

Decorations and Medals:

Legion of Merit, with Gold Star in lieu of Second

Distinguished Flying Cross, with Gold Star in lieu of Second Air Medal

Distinguished Service Order, by Great Britain

Mentioned in Dispatches, by Great Britain

Navy Unit Commendation toooo USS Wasp

 American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with stars

World War II Victory Medal

Korean Service Medal

United Nations Service Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Korean Presidential Unit Citation

Citations:

Legion of Merit: “For exceptionally meritorious as Air Group Commander of an Air Group in Central Pacific waters during the period 29 January 1944 to 28 February 1944. During this period he led and directed his Air Group in a series of highly successful strikes on many enemy bases against heavy enemy opposition. Through his aggressive and fearless leadership, his group was able to protect the escorted bombers from enemy fighter attack, to take photographs of enemy installations, to bomb with devastating accuracy enemy installations, and to conduct many strafing attacks over our own ranks into the troops of the enemy. During all of these actions, he showed great courage, persistent heroism, enthusiastic aggressiveness and disregard for personal safety in directing the operations of his group…”

Gold Star in lieu of Second Legion of Merit: “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander of the Combined Air Groups from HMS Illustrious and the USS Saratoga during joint operations of British and United States Naval Forces against enemy Japanese bases in the Netherlands East Indies, April 19 and May 17, 1944. Skillfully planning, leading and coordinating the operations of the combined Air Group in two extremely hazardous attacks on enemy bases at Babang, Sumatra, and Soerabaja, Java. Commander Clifton enabled his courageous determined airmen to destroy or inflict heavy damage on important hostile ships and shore installations. In the face of persistent, intense antiaircraft fire, he personally accounted for two grounded planes, damaged two others and shot one out the sky, and during both missions obtained valuable photographs to the target regions…”

Distinguished Flying Cross: For heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial attack against the enemy as Commander of a fighting squadron during the raid on Japanese warships in the strongly fortified harbor of Rabaul, New Britain on November 5, 1943. Commander Clifton, as leader of the dive bomber escort, fearlessly led his escort into exceptionally heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire with complete disregard of his personal safety. He strafed enemy ships and pulled out with and ahead of the dive bombers, evaded heavy anti-aircraft fire and successfully beat off determined enemy fighter attacks until the diving attacks had been completed and retirement effected. His resolute determination and daring leadership contributed materially to the success of the attack, both in enabling the dive-bombers to concentrate on their respective targets unhampered by fighter oppositions and in protecting them when they were most vulnerable to fighter attacks. During the retirement, he destroyed one enemy fighter that was closing to short range of his wingman…”

END

Published: Wed May 05 15:58:32 EDT 2021