CLARENCE CHAN NEILL

NEILL, CLARENCE" CHAN" Commander, United States Navy, Retired World War II Fighter Pilot South Pacific Chan Neill, one of the first Naval Aviators to fly night missions in the South Pacific in Japanese Occupied islands, passed away Friday, October 8, 2010, one (1) month after his 94th birthday. He was born in Greely, Colorado, September 8, 1916. Chan moved with his family to San Diego in 1927. He attended Grant Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and San Diego High School. He worked at the World's Fair in Balboa Park in 1935-36, once serving as Eleanor Roosevelt's guide through the grounds and exhibits in a roller chair. Two (2) years later, he Received an AA Degree from San Bernadino College. In December 1940, he joined the Navy and began flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Tx., where he met Billie Jean Bradley. They were married February 6, 1943. Chan was a flight instructor, proficient in advanced Instrument flying. He was deployed to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific where he flew fifty-nine (59) combat missions in Grumman F6F-3's, being one of the first aviators to fly night missions. At the end of the war, he was assigned to air group 8 aboard the aircraft carrier Bennington. Chan earned his B.A. from San Diego State University in 1955. From 1947 to 1971, Chan was Commanding Officer of three (3) Naval Reserve Fighter Squadrons, the last at NAS Los Alamitos, CA. He served as Naval Representative to the North American Air Defense Command in Colo. Springs. Upon his completion of active duty, Chan worked as the real estate specialist at Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NA VFEC) in San Diego, retiring in 1979. He was a real estate broker and insurance agent. Chan is survived by his wife of 67 years, Billie Jean Neill, son Richard Neill of San Diego, daughter Catherine Reed of San Diego; his eldest son Thomas preceded him in passing in 1999. He has granddaughters Christi Warrich of San Mateo, Shelby Reed of Poway, grandsons Richard J. Neill of Santa Paula, CA and Brandin Reed of San Diego, and great-grandson Jason Warrich of San Mateo. Chan was an avid bridge player, a long time member of Kiwanis, and a 84 year member of the Mission Hills Congregational Church, now United Church of Christ. A memorial service will be Saturday, October 23, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Mission Hills United Church of Christ, 4070 Jackdaw Street, San Diego 92103 (619-296-2196). A ceremony at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery will be at a future date.