US Army Air Force

Moviestar warrior

Waistgunner Clark Gable with the 8th Air Force B-17F bomber,United Kingdom,1943. Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the US entered WW2,C Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on 12th of aug 1942 in LA.He attended the Officers Candidate School at Miami Beach,Fla and graduated as second lieutenant on oct 28,1942.He then attended aerial gunnery school and in feb 1943,on personal orders from General Arnold ,went to England to make a motion picture of aerial gunners in action.He was assigned to the 351st Bomb group at Polebrook and although not expected nor ordered to do so,flew 5 operational missions over Europe in B-17's to obtain the combat footage he believed was required for producing the film'Combat America'.Gable was admired by the men of 351st because 'he had guts'.When he returned from his first combat mission,a teletype was sent,noting he had returned safely.When he heard of this he said 'what about all the other guys,don't they get a teletype?'so their folks know their safe?'He asked that such a message wouldn't be sent anymore.Capt.Clark Gable returned to the US in oct 1943 and was relieved from duty as a major in jun 1944 at his own request,since he was over-age for combat.Greetz,Brummbar