Clifford Cameron Nutt was born at Kansas City, Missouri, July 25, 1896. He spent most of his youth in Denver, Colorado, where he was graduated from Manual Training High School in 1914.
In May, 1917, he enlisted as a private first class in the Aviation Section of the Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, and after completing his flying training at Chanute Field, Illinois, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Aviation Section of the Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps on January 21, 1918.
Two and a half years after receiving his commission, the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps, he was named deputy commander for the historic New York to Nome, Alaska, flight and return. Subsequently he spent four months in Alaska laying groundwork for the flight which took place from July to October, 1920.
Previously, on July 1, 1920, he was integrated into the Regular Army, as a first lieutenant of Air Service.
For the Alaska flight, on which he took part as one of the pilots, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the group which made the trip was later awarded the 1920 Clarence Mackay Aviation Trophy for its contribution to the progress of aviation. Taking part in the memorable flight with him were Major General St. Clair Street, then a captain, and Colonel Clarence E. Crumrine, then a lieutenant.
Following this assignment, he went to the Philippine Islands, where he served from March, 1922, to November, 1923. He then transferred to Japan, for duty as Air Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, until December, 1924.
In June, 1938, he was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School, and a year later completed the course at the Army Industrial College.
His World War II service began at Patterson Field, Ohio, where he served successively as assistant chief of staff for intelligence, post executive officer and deputy commander.
In April, 1944, he assumed command of the vast Hawaiian Air Depot, where he directed over 8,000 military and civilian technicians in supplying and repairing Air Force equipment in the Central and South Pacific areas.
Shortly after completion of the wartime mission of the Hawaiian Air Depot, he was recalled to the United States, and in August, 1946, became commanding general of the Atlantic Overseas Air Material District of Air Material Command, with station at Port of Newark, New Jersey. The following March he was appointed vice commander of the First Air Force at Fort Slocum, New York, and retained that position when the First Air Force headquarters was moved to Mitchel AFB, New York, October 1949.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private First Class, Aviation Section, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, August 15, 1917, to January 20, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Aviation Section, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, January 21, 1918; First Lieutenant, Air Service, U.S.A., October 7, 1918, to October 28, 1920; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; Captain, November 26, 1930; Major (temporary), March 16, 1935; Major, June 12, 1939; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), November 16, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., April 18, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, October 15, 1941; Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., October 25, 1945; Colonel, April 2, 1948; retired in the grade of Brigadier General, December 31, 1949.
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1928, with the following citation:
“Clifford C. Nutt, First Lieutenant, Air Corps, then First Lieutenant, Air Service, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. As deputy flight commander and pilot of one of the planes of the Alaskan flying expedition in a flight from Mitchel Field, N.Y., to Nome, Alaska, and return, from July 15 to October 20, 1920, he exhibited fortitude, perseverance, courage and skill, which aided materially in the successful completion of this pioneer flight to Alaska.”