Gale Cleven

American pilot (1918–2006)
Marjorie Ruth Spencer
​
​
(m. 1945; died 1953)​
  • Esther Lee Athey
    ​
    (m. 1955)​

    • 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]

    Early life and military service

    Gale Cleven was born on December 27, 1918 in Lemmon, South Dakota, before the family moved to Wyoming for his father to work in the oil fields. Cleven grew up a little bit north of Casper, Wyoming and graduated valedictorian at his high school.[3] He worked as a roughneck in the oil fields throughout his undergraduate career at the University of Wyoming. During his time at the University of Wyoming his studied mathematics and was a council member for Phi Delta Theta.[1][4]

    World War II

    On February 20, 1940, Cleven enlisted in the Army and received flight training at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas. He was an instructor for the 29th Bomb Group in at the McDill Air Force base in May 1942, and was promoted to commander of the 350th Bomb Squadron in July 1942.[5]

    His service with the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force began on October 27, 1942. He was a part of the Regensburg shuttle mission, piloting one of the few B-17s to reach North Africa. In January 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Major.[6]

    On October 8, 1943, while on his 22nd mission, he was shot down over Bremen, 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.[6] During his time in the camp, Cleven taught advanced calculus to other prisoners.[7]

    Cleven continued to be a member of the Air Force and served through out the Korean and Vietnam wars before he retired, with the rank of Colonel.[4]

    Personal life

    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.[8][9] In 1955, he married Esther Lee Athey, to whom he remained married until he died in 2006, leaving behind his wife, a daughter and two grandchildren.[10]

    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.[11]

    After the war, Cleven earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. in interplanetary physics.[1] After retiring from the Air Force, Cleven held a number of different jobs including in aeronautics and as the president of Webber College from 1979–1986.[4] During his time as president at Webber College he was credited with increasing enrollment and the academic offerings of the college, and laying the foundation for the schools athletic programs.[12]

    In popular culture

    Cleven is portrayed by Austin Butler in Apple TV+'s Masters of the Air.[10] His future wife Marge Spencer is portrayed by Isabel May.[13]

    Awards and decorations

    His awards include:

      USAF Command pilot badge
    Distinguished Service Cross
    Distinguished Flying Cross
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    		 Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
    Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
    Prisoner of War Medal
    American Defense Service Medal
    American Campaign Medal
    Bronze star
    		 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star
    World War II Victory Medal
    Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes National Defense Service Medal
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    Bronze oak leaf cluster
    		 Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters

    Distinguished Service Cross citation

    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.[14]

    References

    1. ^ a b c 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.
    2. ^ "Major Gale Cleven, Odessan, comes through tough raid". The Odessa American. October 26, 1943. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
    3. ^ "Ronman of Academia Rule 1 at Webber College: Don't Mess With Buck Cleven. Rule 2: Buck Cleven Makes All the Rules". Orlando Sentinel. 1986-01-12. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
    4. ^ a b c "Gale Cleven and George Niethammer: The Wyoming Connection in "Masters of the Air"". American Heritage Center (AHC) #AlwaysArchiving. 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
    5. ^ "Gale Winston Cleven". American Air Museum in Britain. 18 Mar 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
    6. ^ a b "Personnel". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
    7. ^ "Life behind the wire at Stalag Luft III". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
    8. ^ "Maj Gale W. "Buck" CLEVEN". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
    9. ^ "Article clipped from Fort Worth Star-Telegram". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1953-08-25. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
    10. ^ 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.
    11. ^ Meilan Solly (23 January 2024). "The Real History Behind 'Masters of the Air' and the 100th Bomb Group". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
    12. ^ Sunshine, Steve. "Dr. Gale W. "Buck" Cleven 1979 to 1986". webberlegacyfoundation.org. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
    13. ^ Kumari, Kopal (2024-01-26). "When do new episodes of 'Masters of the Air' release and how many are there?". We Got This Covered. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
    14. ^ "Valor awards for Gale Winston Cleven". Military Times. Retrieved 2024-05-04.

    External links

    • v
    • t
    • e