World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Clark Gable
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cadiz, Ohio
Honored By
Joe Arsena
SERVED AS B-17 GUNNER with 8th Air Forces IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. Gable ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE IN THE Army AIR Forces at LOS ANGELES, AUGUST 12, 1942. ATTENDED OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL in MIAMI BEACH AND GRADUATED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. ATTENDED SERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL. FEBRUARY 1943 sent to his assignment with THE 351ST BOMB GROUP and stationed at POLEBROOK ENGLAND. Participated in 5 COMBAT MISSIONS with ONE dangerous sortie that included heavy combat in B-17 over GERMANY. Upon return to Polebrook, an airman witnessed one German 20mm shell had taken off Gable's heel from his boot as it passed through the aircraft without exploding. RETURNED TO THE U.S. OCTOBER 1943. RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE service AS A MAJOR JUNE 12, 1944. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal