Clinton W. Russell was born at Hico, Texas, on May 6, 1891. Following graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, he was appointed a second lieutenant of Infantry on June 12, 1913.
SERVICE
He first served at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York, with the 5th Infantry until October 1914, when he was ordered to the Philippine Islands for service with the 8th Infantry. He returned to the United States in January 1916, and became a student aviator at San Diego, California. In October he joined the 1st Aero Squadron at Columbus, New Mexico, serving there and with the Punitive Expedition into Mexico until February 1917. He was then assigned to duty in the Panama Canal Zone, and in November 1917, he returned to the United States to become Officer in Charge of Flying at Rich Field, Waco, Texas; after April 1918 he became Commanding Officer of the Air Service Flying School, also at Waco, Texas. He served two months in the Office of the Director of Military Aeronautics, Washington, D.C., and in November 1918, became Officer in Charge of Flying at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, from March to October 1919, and at Barron Field, Everman, Texas, to December 1920.
He served with Reserve Officers Training Corps units in Texas until June 1924. He then enrolled in the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in June 1925. He served the next four years as an instructor at the Command and General Staff School, then entered the Army War College, Washington, D.C. Following graduation in 1930, he entered the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and was graduated in 1931.
He next served in the Personnel Division, G-1, of the War Department General Staff, Washington, D.C. In August 1935, he became Executive Officer at Hamilton Field, San Rafael, California, and then Base Force Executive Officer and later Commander of the Air Base at Hamilton Field. He served the first two months of 1939 with the War Department General Staff, Washington, D.C., and was transferred in March 1939, to Langley Field, Virginia, as Chief of Staff, General Headquarters Air Force.
In January 1941 he went on temporary duty in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps in Washington, D.C., with additional duty at Bolling Field, District of Columbia, with the Air Force Combat Command. He later became Chief of Staff of that command. In January 1942, he was assigned to the General Headquarters of the Army, Washington. D.C. He went to an unannounced overseas station in March 1942, and returned in October 1942, for duty with Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., including duty as War Department liaison officer in the office of Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.
General Russell died on March 23, 1943, at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.
He was rated a Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
In 1944, the Liberty Ship Robert W. Bingham (2794) was converted into an “Ivory Soap” aircraft repair ship and renamed the Brigadier General Clinton W. Russell. The ship was outfitted as a mobile aircraft repair and maintenance depot and carried two Sikorsky R-4B “Hoverfly” helicopters for observation, spotting downed aircraft and rescue and ferry work. The ship served as home for the 5th Aircraft Repair Unit (Floating).
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, March 1, 1909; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, June 12, 1913; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1916; Captain, May 15, 1917; Major, N.A., June 17, 1918 to August 3, 1918; Major (temporary), June 7, 1918, to February 27, 1920; transferred to Air Service on July 1, 1920; Major, July 1, 1920; Lieutenant Colonel, August 1, 1935; Colonel (temporary), May 1, 1939; Brigadier General, A.U.S., October 25, 1940.
DECORATIONS
The Government of Ecuador conferred on General Russell the Star of Abdon Calderon (second class) on August 26, 1936.
(Up to date as of March 31, 1943)