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Clinton W. Davies, Ca. 1940s-1950s (Source: Link)
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Clinton Davies visited Tucson a dozen times between Monday, February 20, 1928 and Friday, July 25, 1930. He flew at least five different deHavilland DHs and two different Douglas models. His indifferent-appearing, undated portrait at right is from the U.S. Air Force Web site.
One of his landings, on Thursday, May 30, 1928 at 8:15PM, was a flight of two. He flew a deHavilland DH he identified as 31-561. He carried a single passenger, Capt. C.L.Mullins. Based at Riverside, CA, March Field, they arrived at Tucson from Douglas, AZ. They remained overnight, departing the next morning at 10:00AM to Riverside. His flight partner was Byron T. Burt, who flew the deHavilland DH he identified as 32-512. Burt carried a single passenger, Lt. W.C. White over the same itinerary.
This flight of two was actually a flight of three, which ended tragically at Douglas just hours before Davies and Burt, as the surviving aviators, arrived at Tucson. Please direct your browser to Burt's link to see the circumstances of their ill-fated flight.
Davies' other flight details recorded in the Register showed exclusively itineraries between Riverside, Douglas, AZ and Tucson. He carried passengers that outranked him on at least seven of his visits. He and his passengers remained overnight only once, as documented above. It's logical to infer Davies was providing a triangular taxi service for officers.
"Clinton William Davies was born in Racine, Wis., in [September 26] 1899. Entering the service as a private in the U.S. Army on Oct. 10, 1918, he was honorably discharged that Dec. 21 and resumed his studies at the University of Wisconsin.
"Appointed an aviation cadet, in September 1923 General Davies entered Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, a year later and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve. Assigned to the First Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Mich., in 1926 he became a flying instructor, serving at Brooks Field, March Field, Calif., and Randolph Field, Texas, successively.
"Going to the Philippines in 1934, General Davies was a flight leader in the Third Pursuit Squadron at Clark Field. He entered the Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Ala., in 1936, and graduated the following year. He became a regular Army instructor, National Guard, at Newark, N.J. Two years later he was named commandant of the Advanced Flying School and in August 1942 he was assigned for duty with the Liaison Section, Eastern Defense Command, at Mitchel Field, N.Y.
"Ordered to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in February 1945, General Davies was command special services officer, assuming command of Tullin Air Base, Austria, in March 1946. Entering the Air War College at Maxwell Field, Ala., in July 1947, he graduated the following June and returned to Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y., as public information officer of the Continental Air Command.
"Returning to the Philippines in July 1949, General Davies served as base commander and commander of the 18th Fighter Wing at Clark Air Force Base. Reassigned at Maxwell Air Force Base, in January 1952 he was deputy director of administration at Air University headquarters becoming director of administration that June. In September 1954 he was appointed director of the Research Studies Institute there.
"His decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Brazilian War Medal. He is rated a command pilot."
(Up to date as of June 1955) |
C.W. Davies, Ca. 1980s (Source: ancestry.com)
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His brief biography, left, is current as of 1955 and is from the same link as his portrait, above. Events in this biography can be compared with the records discussed below. The photograph at right is from his record at ancestry.com and is probably ca. 1980s.
Davies was born September 26, 1899. The 1900 U.S. Census placed him, his twin brother, Frank C., and an older brother and sister living at 935 State Street, Racine, WI. According to Google Earth, this address is now what appears to be a church parking lot. His father, John (1853-1908), was a manufacturer of iron products. His mother, Lillie E. (nee: Case, 1865-1930), was a homemaker. Living with the family were a servant, Bessie Howard (17) and three boarders.
The 1910 Census coded the family at 744 College Avenue, Racine. Davies' father had passed away n 1908 and now Lillie was head of household and managing their boarding house. The Davies twins were ten years old.
Davies registered for the draft in Wisconsin September 12, 1918. He entered the army October 10, 1918 for primary training and was placed in the reserves until September 1923 when he began flight training. He earned second lieutenant in 1926, and worked his way slowly through the ranks during the 1930s.
In 1920 the Census placed the family again at the same address in Racine. His mother was now remarried to LaFayette Pierce and she was managing their boarding house.Only Clinton and Frank were coded as living at that home.
In 1930, the Census, taken on April 19th, coded him living in bachelor officers quarters at Riverside, CA. Many pages of Riverside Census forms recorded hundreds more of his fellow officers and airmen.
An immigration document cited his departure on August 21, 1936 inbound to New York aboard the German-American ship Hansa from Southhampton, England. His occupation was listed as "army officer." An immigration form completed in New York on August 28th suggested he was returning from his assignment in the Philippines, which he had accepted in 1934. His initial destination in the U.S. was Hamilton Field, San Rafael, CA, but he soon traveled to Alabama for additional training.
I have no details about his assignment as, "... regular Army instructor, National Guard, at Newark, N.J." cited in his bio at left.
On March 8, 1941, nine months before WWII commenced, he married Dorothy Dixon Harmon of San Antonio, TX in Arlington, VA. Their marriage certificate is below. It was his first marriage and her second.
C.W. Davies/Dorothy Dixon Marriage Certificate, March 8, 1941 (Source: ancestry.com)
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The photograph below shows Dorothy in Florida in 1941. From the annotation, the photo was snapped after her marriage to Davies. It might have been snapped by Davies during a honeymoon trip. She held a small doll in her left hand.
Dorothy Dixon Harmon Davies, Somewhere in Florida, 1941 (Source: ancestry.com)
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According to his newspaper obituary, below, Davies spent part of WWII in Italy flying B-25 bombers. The rest of his time was spent in the U.S. managing training and administrative assignments.
The 1956 edition of the Register of Civil, Military and Naval Service, Vol. 1, page 339 listed Davies at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL. His assignment and his staff are summarized below, abridged from page 339 of the reference. Compare the next to last paragraph of his official Air Force biography above, left.
Dummy Table (Source: ancestry.com)
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His grave marker is below. He survived Dorothy by nine years.
Dorothy & C.W. Davies Grave Marker, 1989 (Source: ancestry.com)
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His obituary from the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, February 7, 1989 is below.
Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, February 7, 1989 (Source: newspapers.com)
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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 10/29/20 REVISED:
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