Clifford A. Newell, Jr. Collection

Sgt. Clifford A. Newell, Jr., in Kunming, China, on October 24, 1945.

Sgt. Clifford A. Newell, Jr., was a member of the 69th Depot Repair Squadron (69th DRS), 301st Air Depot Group. Left for posting in CBI on February 27, 1945, arrived March 27, 1945. Departed for return to US on March 5, 1946, arriving March 20, 1946. During his travels, he kept as a keepsake a record of the journey of the 69th DRS (3rd Convoy):

Left Kelly Field on Friday, February 16, 1945.
Arrived Camp Anza (Riverside Calif.) on Monday, February 19, 1945.
Sailed from Wilmington, Calif., on Tuesday, February 27, 1945, on USS Admiral William S. Benson).
Crossed Equator 17:21 on Tuesday, March 6, 1945.
Crossed International Date Line, 22:27, on Wednesday, March 7, 1945.
Arrived Melbourne Australia, 11:25, Wednesday, March 14, 1945.
Left Melbourne 10:30, Friday, March 16, 1945.
Crossed Equator (second time), 02.:00, Friday, March 23, 1945.
Arrived Bombay, India, 10:00, on March 27, 1945.
Arrived Calcutta, India, 11:00, March 31, 1945.
Arrived Camp Kanchapara, 13:30, March 31, 1945.
Left Camp Kanchapara, 08:00, April 23, 1945 (mileage 16,700).
Left Ledo, started on Ledo Road, 09:00, April 29, 1945.
Started on Burma Road, 08:00, May 8, 1945.
Entered China, 11:00, May 8, 1945.
Arrived Kunming, 17:00, Friday, June 1, 1945.
Mileage over Ledo, Burma roads 1,095, ground distance traveled (in theater) 1,886.

Clifford was born October 15, 1919 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the only son of Clifford A. Sr., and Annabell (Hunter) Newell.

Clifford Newell in posed headshot during WWII.

Grew up in seaside town of Hull, Mass. He graduated from Hingham High School in 1939 and attended Bentley School of Accounting for six months in 1940, but then started working as receiving checker in the stock of Moore Kline Incorporated in Boston, until his induction into the US Army on August 31, 1942.

Military assignments included 1 month as a Pvt. in Air Force Basic Training, 25 months as a Sgt. Supply Clerk, and 4 months at as Sgt. Truck Driver. He was qualified as Marksman on the carbine. As a supply clerk, he performed various clerical and stock handling duties related to general supplies in an Army warehouse. As a truck driver, he drove two and a half ton trucks and lighter, hauling food and clothing, gasoline, and equipment long distances over the Burma Road. According to Mr Newell, the primary function of the 69th was salvaged of downed aircraft.

He was honorably discharged on March 28, 1946, at the separation center at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, and Victory Medal.

He returned to Bentley College where he graduated with his degree in accounting in 1951 and worked for the Boston Insurance Company as an accounting clerk from 1952 until 1963. Cliff then spent 24 years as a supervisor for the State Board of Retirement until his retirement in 1987.

Married Jane H. (Badger) Newell.

Clifford was a founding member of the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor, a member of the American Air Museum in Britain, a member of the 14th Airforce Association – Flying Tigers 69th Repair Squad, a member of Orient Lodge AF & AM of Norwood since 1959, a member of the Westwood Square and Compass since 1959, a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, a member of the Norfolk County Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and a member of the social register at Plimoth Plantation.