Clinton Wilbur Howard was born on Nov. 27, 1890, in Brockton, Mass. He attended Clark University, Mass., and upon his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery, Regular Army, on June 12, 1915.
His first commissioned service was with the 4th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was stationed until November 1915 when he transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, with this regiment. During this period he served in the Mexican Punitive Expedition for three months. In July 1916 he was on detached duty to attend the Signal Corps Aviation School, Calif. He earned his wings there in August 1917, and was then assigned to Fort Sill, Okla. In April 1918 he proceeded to Langley Field, Va., as Commandant the School for Aerial Observers. In February 1919 he became Commanding Officer of Rockwell Field, Calif.
In April 1919 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of Payne Field, Miss., where he served until January 1920. He was then ordered to Post Sill, Okla., to command the Observers School there. In July 1920 he transferred from Field Artillery to the Air Service and became Commanding Officer of Pope Field, N.C. In November 1920 he enrolled in the Air Service Engineering School, McCook Field, Ohio, and in September 1921 went to Cambridge, Mass., to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He returned to McCook Field in July 1923 for duty with the Engineering Division. In September 1925 he proceeded to Camp Nichols, Philippine Islands, and became Commanding Officer of that post in December 1925.
Returning to the United States in December 1927, he served as Chief of the Airplane Branch, Engineering Section, Air Corps Materiel Division, at Wright Field, Ohio. In September 1928 he became Chief of the Experimental Engineering Section at that post. In February 1934 he was assigned to Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief, Training and Operations Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, where he served until August 1935 when he enrolled in the Army Industrial College, Washington, D.C. Graduating in June 1936 he entered the Army War College, Washington, D.C., in August 1936, and completed the course the following June.
In July 1937 he was assigned to General Headquarters Air Forces, Langley Field, Va., for staff duties. In January 1939 he enrolled in the Special Naval Operations Course in the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Ala. Upon its completion he returned to Langley Field. His next assigned was to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Washington, D.C., for General Staff duty in the Operations and Training Division, War Department General Staff, in September 1939. He became Commanding Officer of the Charlotte Army Air Base, N.C., in March 1931. In October 1931 he became Commanding Officer of Norris Field, N.C., and was later named acting Chief of Staff, 3rd Air Force at Tampa, Fla. In June 1942 he became Chief of Staff, Army Air Force Technical Training Command, Knollwood Field, N.C., and in June 1943 was designated Commanding General, Air Service Command (redesignated Air Technical Service Command), Calif.
He is rated a command pilot, combat observer and technical observer.
PROMOTIONS
First lieutenant, July 1, 1916; captain, May 15, 1917; major (temporary), July 1, 1918. In Feb. 27, 1920 he reverted to his permanent rank of captain, and on July 1, 1920 transferred to the Air Service and was promoted to major (permanent); lieutenant colonel, May 1, 1936; colonel (temporary), March 1, 1940; brigadier general (temporary), Dec. 1, 1942.
(Current as of August 1945)