Get to Know Clark Gable

Aerial Gunner & Famous Hollywood Actor

by Robert H. Paley, 100 ARW Historian.

CLARK GABLE was already a well-established Hollywood star when the untimely death of his wife, Carole Lombard(actress Combat America WW2 Aerial Combat Documentary) in January 1942 left him “emotionally and physically shattered. RIGHT:Gable and Carole Lombard after their 1939 honeymoon.

At the age of 41, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner, but was later commissioned and reassigned by General “Hap” Arnold himself to create a propaganda film to increase enlistment rates. Gable was sent to England where he joined the 351st Bombardment Group (not to be mistaken for the famous 351st Bombardment Squadron) as the head of a six man film crew. Despite his star status, Gable flew on at least five combat missions in B-17 bombers with the 351st BG and was nearly killed on one mission. “During an attack on his plane, Gable was wedged behind the gunner in the cramped top turret, shooting footage of German planes making five passes at the bomber formation. As he was handling his camera, a 20mm shell penetrated the bomber from below. Gable and the gunner dodged death: the shell cut off the heel of Gable’s boot, flew past him and exited the plane a foot from his head, all without exploding.[2]” Gable received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal for his work during the combat missions.

Gable resigned his commission in 1947 and returned to his legendary acting career. “By coincidence, his discharge papers were signed by a later

Gable received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal for his work during the combat missions

U.S. President: then-Captain Ronald Reagan.” Gable and his crew would go on to film over 50,000 feet of war footage, which would soon be turned into the movie “Combat America” and released in November 1943.

He passed away on Nov. 16, 1960, at the age of 59 due to coronary thrombosis, but his service to his nation lives on. ABOVE:Gable in the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Combat America" movie poster.

US Army Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia. Commons.

Gable in the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress.

www.americanairmuseum.com/media/4862