Gale Cleven
{{Short description|American pilot (1918–2006)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Gale W. Cleven
| image = Major Gale Cleven (studio portrait).jpg
| image_upright =
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| native_name =
| other_name =
| nickname = Buck
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|12|27}}
| birth_place = Lemmon, South Dakota, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|11|17|1918|12|27}}
| death_place = Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S.
| death_cause =
| placeofburial = Santa Fe National Cemetery
| placeofburial_label =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = {{unbulleted list|
|United States Army Air Forces
}}
| branch_label =
| serviceyears = 1940–1963
| serviceyears_label =
| rank = Colonel
| rank_label =
| servicenumber = O-399782
| unit = 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
| commands =
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| battles = World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
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| awards = Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal (4)
| memorials =
| alma_mater = University of Wyoming (BA)
Harvard Business School (MBA)
Georgetown University (PhD)
| spouse = {{unbulleted list|
|{{marriage|Marjorie Ruth Spencer|1945|1953|end=died}}
|{{marriage|Esther Lee Athey|1955}}
}}
| children =
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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.{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Donald L. |title=Masters of the air: America's bomber boys who fought the air war against Nazi Germany |date=2007 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=9780743235457 |edition=1. Simon & Schuster trade paperback}}{{cite news |title=Major Gale Cleven, Odessan, comes through tough raid |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-major-gale-cleven-o/139736417/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |work=The Odessa American |date=October 26, 1943 |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-major-gale-continue/139736462/ 3] |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
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 slightly north of Casper, Wyoming and graduated valedictorian at his high school.{{Cite web |date=1986-01-12 |title=Ronman of Academia Rule 1 at Webber College: Don't Mess With Buck Cleven. Rule 2: Buck Cleven Makes All the Rules. |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1986/01/12/ronman-of-academia-rule-1-at-webber-college-dont-mess-with-buck-cleven-rule-2-buck-cleven-makes-all-the-rules/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}} 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 he studied mathematics on a full academic scholarship and was a council member for Phi Delta Theta.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-01 |title=Gale Cleven and George Niethammer: The Wyoming Connection in "Masters of the Air" |url=https://ahcwyo.org/2024/04/01/gale-cleven-and-george-niethammer-the-wyoming-connection-in-masters-of-the-air/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=American Heritage Center (AHC) #AlwaysArchiving |language=en-US}} He later completed another degree at the University of Wyoming, majoring in geology.{{Cite news |last=Singerman |first=Philip |date=January 12, 1986 |title=Ironman of Academia; Rule 1 at Webber College: Don't mess with Buck Cleven |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/229548587/?terms=Gale%20Cleven |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |pages=198–203}}
= Military =
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 at the McDill Air Force base in May 1942 and was promoted to commander of the 350th Bombardment Squadron in July 1942.{{Cite web |date=18 Mar 2024 |title=Gale Winston Cleven |url=https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/gale-winston-cleven |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=American Air Museum in Britain}}
His service with the 100th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force began on October 27, 1942. In January 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Major.{{Cite web |title=Personnel |url=https://100thbg.com/personnel/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=100th Bomb Group Foundation |language=en-US}} He was a part of the Regensburg shuttle mission, piloting one of the few B-17s to reach North Africa. In a post mission report it was recommended that Cleven receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during the mission, he instead received a Distinguished Service Cross.{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Frank |title=Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe |publisher=St Martins Griffin |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-250-28415-0 |location=New York |pages=177}}
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. During his time in the camp, Cleven taught advanced calculus to other prisoners.{{Cite web |title=Life behind the wire at Stalag Luft III |url=https://www.americanairmuseum.com/stories/life-behind-wire-stalag-luft-iii |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=American Air Museum in Britain}}
Cleven continued to be a member of the Air Force and served throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars before he retired, with the rank of Colonel. While in the military Cleven held positions in management in data processing divisions of the Atomic Energy Commission, US Air Force, and the Office of Defense.{{Cite news |date=September 15, 1966 |title=Operations Director Plans to Address for Acountant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1097129103/?match=1&terms=Gale%20Cleven |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Daily Breeze |pages=24}}
Personal life
Cleven married his childhood sweetheart Marjorie Ruth {{cite web |title=Personnel - Maj Gale W. "Buck" CLEVEN |url=https://100thbg.com/personnel/?personnel_id=911 |website=100th Bomb Group Foundation |access-date=30 March 2025}}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.{{Cite web |title=Maj Gale W. "Buck" CLEVEN |url=https://100thbg.com/personnel/?personnel_id=911 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=100th Bomb Group Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=1953-08-25 |title=Article clipped from Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/67976962/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=20}} At the time, Cleven was being transferred from an Army Air base in Albuquerque, New Mexico to the Morton Army Air Base in San Bernardino, California.{{cite web |title=Personnel - Maj Gale W. "Buck" CLEVEN |url=https://100thbg.com/personnel/?personnel_id=911 |website=100th Bomb Group Foundation |access-date=30 March 2025}} 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.
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.{{cite news |author1=Meilan Solly |title=The Real History Behind 'Masters of the Air' and the 100th Bomb Group |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-history-behind-masters-of-the-air-and-the-100th-bomb-group-180983629/ |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=Smithsonian Magazine |date=23 January 2024}} Egan reportedly brought a silk parachute to Cleven's and Spencer's wedding to be used as bridal dress material for Spencer.
After the war, Cleven earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1949 and a Ph.D. in interplanetary physics from Georgetown University in 1964. 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. 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 school's athletic programs.{{Cite web |last=Sunshine |first=Steve |title=Dr. Gale W. "Buck" Cleven 1979 to 1986 |url=https://webberlegacyfoundation.org/memorials/dr-gale-w-buck-cleven-1979-to-1986 |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=webberlegacyfoundation.org |language=en}}
In popular culture
Cleven is portrayed by Austin Butler in Apple TV+'s Masters of the Air.{{cite news |author1=Jonny Wilkes |title=The real Gale Cleven: who was Buck in Masters of the Air? |url=https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/real-gale-cleven-buck-masters-of-the-air/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |work=History Extra |publisher=Immediate Media Company |date=January 26, 2024}} His future wife Marge Spencer is portrayed by Isabel May.{{Cite web |last=Kumari |first=Kopal |date=2024-01-26 |title=When do new episodes of 'Masters of the Air' release and how many are there? |url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/when-do-new-episodes-of-masters-of-the-air-release-and-how-many-are-there/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=We Got This Covered |language=en-US}}
Awards and decorations
His awards include:
| colspan="2"|150px USAF Command pilot badge |
| {{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=106}}
|Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
| {{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Prisoner of War ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=106}}
|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 serious 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 reflected the greatest credit upon himself and inspired the members of his command.{{cite web|url= https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/30546 |title=Valor awards for Gale Winston Cleven|website=Military Times |access-date=2024-05-04}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/gale-winston-cleven Gale Winston Cleven] at American Air Museum
- [https://100thbg.com/personnel/?personnel_id=911 Personnel - Maj Gale W. “Buck” CLEVEN] - 100th Bomb Group Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleven, Gale}}
Category:American prisoners of war in World War II
Category:American World War II bomber pilots
Category:Aviators from South Dakota
Category:Military personnel from South Dakota
Category:People from Lemmon, South Dakota
Category:United States Army Air Forces officers
Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Category:Recipients of the Air Medal
Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
Category:Stalag Luft III prisoners of World War II
Category:United States Air Force colonels
Category:United States Army Air Forces bomber pilots of World War II
Category:Burials at Santa Fe National Cemetery
Category:University of Wyoming alumni