William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 â November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as “The King of Hollywood”. He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades of which was as a leading man. Gable died of a heart attack at the age of 59; his final on-screen appearance was as an aging cowboy in The Misfits, released posthumously in 1961.
On August 1942 Gable volunteered for the Army Air Forces, went to the 13-week Officer Candidate School, and was trained as a photographer and aerial gunner. Because of his Hollywood connections, he was made a part of the First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU) located at what troops called âFort Roachâ â the Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, Calif. FMPU was commanded by producer Jack Warner, who was recruited as a lieutenant colonel. Flight operations were commanded by âHollywood Pilotâ Paul Mantz, famous for his stunt flying in films, who became a major. Other FMPU stalwarts included Alan Ladd, Ronald Reagan and Van Heflin. Most never went overseas, but not Gable.
He was assigned to the 351st Bombardment Group, equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and shipped off to England. Gable and a cameramen and sound engineer followed the crew of a B-17, named âAinât It Gruesome,â through 24 missions, including one where the aircraft was shot up by German Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighters and lost an engine, with the crew eventually bailing over a field in England when fog closed in. Gableâs combat missions including one over Gelsenkirchen where he was nearly hit when antiaircraft fire damaged the airplane. At least one of his missions was aboard another B-17, âDelta Rebel 2â of the 91st Bomb Group, where ball turret gunner Sgt. Steve Perri remembered him as âa great friend of the enlisted men as well as a great all-around guy.â
Gable was relieved from active duty as a major on June 12, 1944 at his request, since he was over-age for combat.
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