Gale Cleven
Gale W. Cleven | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Nickname(s) | Buck |
| Born | December 27, 1918 Lemmon, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 2006 (aged 87) Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | |
| Years of service | 1940–1963 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | O-399782 |
| Unit | 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (4) |
| Alma mater | University of Wyoming (BA) Harvard Business School (MBA) Georgetown University (PhD) |
| Spouse(s) |
|
Gale Winston "Buck" Cleven (December 27, 1918 – November 17, 2006) was an American pilot who served with the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.[1][2]
Military service[edit]
World War II[edit]
On February 20, 1940, Cleven enlisted in the Army. His service with the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force began on October 27, 1942.[3]
He was a part of the Regensburg shuttle mission, piloting one of the few B-17s to reach North Africa. On October 8, 1943, while on his 22nd mission, he was shot down over Bremen in Germany. Cleven was then taken as a prisoner-of-war to Stalag Luft III and Stalag VII-A, before escaping to American lines in March 1945.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Cleven married his childhood sweetheart Marjorie née Spencer from Lander, Wyoming in July 1945. She died from a brain aneurysm in August 1953 shortly after contracting polio while visiting her family in Coffeyville, Kansas.[4][5] In 1955, he married Esther Lee Athey, to whom he remained married until he died in 2006.[6]
During flying school, Cleven was given the nickname Buck by fellow airman and best friend John "Bucky" Egan, as the latter thought that he looked like his friend from Wisconsin named Buck.[7]
After the war, Cleven earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. in interplanetary physics.[1]
In popular culture[edit]
Cleven is portrayed by Austin Butler in Apple TV+'s Masters of the Air.[6] His future wife Marge Spencer is portrayed by Isabel May.[8]
Awards and decorations[edit]
His awards include:
Distinguished Service Cross citation[edit]
- Cleven, Gale W.
- Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
- 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
- Date of Action: August 17, 1943
- Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) Gale Winston Cleven, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 350th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (H), Eighth Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 17 August 1943, against enemy ground targets in Bremen, Germany. With his ship badly damaged, partially out of control, and with serous injuries to his personnel, Major Cleven continued to lead his squadron to the target in the face of extremely heavy attacks by enemy aircraft, executed a successful bombing attack, and reached base in North Africa safely. This brilliantly successful operation, to which Major Cleven contributed very largely, resulted in a damaging blow to the enemy by the destruction of military objectives and of a large number of enemy aircraft. The extraordinary heroism, coolness, and skill displayed by Major Cleven on this occasion reflect the greatest credit upon himself and were an inspiration to the members of his command.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Miller, Donald L. (2007). Masters of the air: America's bomber boys who fought the air war against Nazi Germany (1. Simon & Schuster trade paperback ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780743235457.
- ^ "Major Gale Cleven, Odessan, comes through tough raid". The Odessa American. October 26, 1943. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Personnel". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ https://100thbg.com/personnel/?personnel_id=911
- ^ "Article clipped from Fort Worth Star-Telegram". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1953-08-25. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ a b Jonny Wilkes (January 26, 2024). "The real Gale Cleven: who was Buck in Masters of the Air?". History Extra. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Meilan Solly (23 January 2024). "The Real History Behind 'Masters of the Air' and the 100th Bomb Group". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/when-do-new-episodes-of-masters-of-the-air-release-and-how-many-are-there/
- ^ "Valor awards for Gale Winston Cleven". Military Times. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
External links[edit]
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- World War II United States Army personnel stubs
- 1918 births
- 2006 deaths
- American prisoners of war in World War II
- Aviators from South Dakota
- Military personnel from South Dakota
- People from Lemmon, South Dakota
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
- Stalag Luft III prisoners of World War II
- United States Air Force colonels
- United States Army Air Forces bomber pilots of World War II
- Burials at Santa Fe National Cemetery
- University of Wyoming alumni
- George Washington University alumni
- Harvard Business School alumni