The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Bissel, Clayton L. (original) (raw)

Clayton Bissel graduated from law school in 1917 but joined the Air Service, becoming an acein combat in Franceduring the First World War. Awarded a regular commissionin 1920, he was assistant to Brigadier General "Billy" Mitchell for four years and was a lead pilot in the famous battleship bombing test. He spent five years as a flight instructor and attended the Command and General StaffSchool. He was the only fighter ace of the First World War who had remained with the air service throughout the interwar period and 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 inintelligence for the remainder of the war.

Bissel admitted to Congress in 1950 that he had helped cover up the Katyn massacreby 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 Collegesite:ibiblio.org/hyperwar

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