# Gale Cleven

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.

## 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. 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. He later completed another degree at the University of Wyoming, majoring in geology.

### 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 Bomb Squadron in July 1942.
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. 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.
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.
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.

## 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. 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. Egan reportedly brought a silk parachute to Cleven and Spencers 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.

## In popular culture

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

## Awards and decorations

His awards include:
USAF Command pilot badge :
* Distinguished Service Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
* Prisoner of War Medal
* American Defense Service Medal
* American Campaign Medal
* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star
* World War II Victory Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* 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.