Clayton C. Jerome

Marine Corps service 1920s & 1930s Jerome was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant upon graduation from the Naval Academy. After completing the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, and serving a year at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., he entered flight training at Pensacola, Florida in August 1924. Following his designation as aviator, Jerome served at the Naval Air Station, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, beginning in July 1925. In September 1924, Division 1, Fighting Plane Squadron 3M (VF-3M), 2nd Aviation Group was activated Naval Air Station San Diego. 2nd Lt Jerome service as the squadron's first commanding officer for 19 days before giving over command to a 1st lieutenant.

In April 1927, he was appointed a first lieutenant and ordered to China via the Philippine Islands. Completing his expeditionary service in China, he was stationed briefly on Guam in September 1928, before returning to San Diego.

In January 1930, when the hand control or "stick" of his plane broke off at the socket while he was practicing acrobatics 2,000 feet over the city of San Diego, California. Since a crash would have resulted in death or property damage for people on the ground, he elected to stay with the plane rather than parachute. He righted the craft to normal flying position by maneuvering the socket with his hand; then, lashing the stick back to the socket with his handkerchief, trouser belt and necktie, he made a successful landing. For this action, he received a letter of commendation from the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department.

From the West Coast, Jerome was again ordered to Quantico, where he served with Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force. He then completed a tour of temporary duty in Nicaragua before entering the Post Graduate School at the Naval Academy in June 1932. He went on from there to the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, where he obtained his Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Advanced to captain in May 1934, Jerome reported to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, before he was detailed to the American Legation in Bogota, Colombia as Naval Attaché and Naval Attaché for Air at the American Legation in Bogota, Columbio to the governments of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. While serving in the latter capacity, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in April 1937, for his daring rescue of the survivors of a Venezuelan plane crash. Using an amphibious plane, he repeatedly flew over the treacherous jungles of Cuyuni in search of the wreck. After finding it, he made two hazardous landings on the narrow Cuyuni River to rescue four survivors.

On his return to the United States, Jerome entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, where he was promoted to major. He completed the school in May 1939, and served again at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, until May 1940, when he was ordered to Washington once more for duty in the Bureau of Aeronautics. He later served as officer in charge of the Reserve Personnel Section and as assistant director of the Division of Aviation at Marine Corps Headquarters, where he received his promotions to lieutenant colonel and colonel. From 30 March 1943 to 12 May 1943, Col. Jerome served as acting director of aviation.

Personal life Jerome was married to Sarah Hunter "Sally" Jerome. Sally authored the book The Marine Corps Wife, which was "a guide to approved customs of military social life".

Sources: