Clarence Shortridge Irvine

Clarence Shortridge Irvine (16 December 1898 – 7 September 1975) was a United States Air Force (USAF) lieutenant general who was involved in the development and deployment of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Convair B-36A Peacemaker, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber. He flew aircraft in several films, including Wings and Hells Angels.

Early life and career Clarence Shortridge Irvine was born in St. Paul, Nebraska, on 16 December 1898, the son of James Irvine Jr. and Margaret Jane Welsh.

Irvine joined the U.S. Army Air Service as a private on 4 November 1918, shortly before World War I ended. He served as an airplane mechanic and reached the rank of sergeant first class.

On returning to Washington, D.C., on 9 September 1944, he became the assistant chief of staff, A-4, of the Twentieth Air Force, the command responsible for the B-29s. In this role he oversaw the logistical support. He conducted tests of the B-29 under combat conditions in England and North Africa,

Post-war

Irvine remained in the Pacific after the war as the Twentieth Air Force's deputy chief of staff for supply and maintenance from 9 August to 13 October 1945, then as the assistant chief of staff, A-4, of the United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific until 6 December 1945, as deputy chief of staff of the Pacific Air Command, United States Army (PACUSA) from 7 December 1945 to 31 December 1946, and of the Far East Air Forces as PACUSA was became on 1 January 1947 when the United States Air Force was formed.

Returning to the United States in March 1947, Irvine became the assistant chief of staff of the Strategic Air Command at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland from 10 April 1947 to 5 September 1948. He commanded the Silverplate B-29s of the 509th Bomb Wing at Walker Air Force Base in New Mexico from 15 September 1948 to 2 January 1950, with the rank of brigadier general from 10 September 1949. He then commanded the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas from 3 January 1950 to 15 February 1951, and then the 19th Air Division there until October 1951.

Irvine's decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

Irvine died on 7 September 1975 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Dates of rank