Wesley (kinda) shared a B-17 with Clark Gable

An inside look at Wesley's experience in Europe

102nd PBCW Lead.  Aircraft Commander/Pilot Captain William R. Calhoun, Jr. / Co-Pilot Lieutenant Colonel William A. Hatcher, commander, 351st Bombardment Group. Left to Right: Staff Sergeant Willam C. Mulgrew, Ball Turret Gunner; Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak, Left Waist Gunner; Technical Sergeant Roman R. Zaorski, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; Staff Sergeant Murel A. Murphy, Right Waist Gunner; Captain Robert J. Yonkman, Bombardier; Lieutenant Colonel William A. Hatcher, Co-Pilot; Captain William R. Calhoun, Aircraft Commander/Pilot; 1st Lieutenant Joseph M. Strickland, Navigator; Technical Sergeant Charles R. Terry, Radio Operator; Staff Sergeant Willard W. Stephen, Tail Gunner; Captain Clark Gable, Top Gunner. (U.S. Air Force)

If you listened to last week’s episode, you heard about the missions that Wesley flew in The 8 Ball Mk. III. He wrote in his manuscript that it was his favorite aircraft, having seen him through both the mission where they were nearly shot down, and the one he flew his final mission in.

It’s predecessor, The 8 Ball Mk. II was one of the aircraft featured in the 1944 movie “Combat America.” Clark Gable narrates the film, which follows the experiences and operations of the 351st Bomb Group.

The 8 ball (Mk. I) was one of the original B-17s in the 303rd Bombardment Group, and the Mk. II was the first replacement aircraft to fly after the Mk. I was damaged and “belly-landed” in England.

During filming in 1943, before Wesley had arrived in Europe, Gable flew a mission in The 8 Ball Mk. II. In all, Gable flew five combat missions over Europe, but this was his first. He had been trained and certified as an aerial gunner, and held the rank of Captain. After Gable’s plane was nearly shot down, and he was nearly killed by flak over Germany, studio executives began pressuring the Army to keep him from flying. The Army agreed that he was probably more valuable to the war effort as an actor than a gunner.

Gable returned to the United States to edit the film, and was discharged in June of 1944, despite his stated desire for another combat assignment.

Wesley’s favorite aircraft, The 8 Ball Mk. III went down on Nov. 2, 1944 during a mission over Germany. Most members of the crew were able to parachute to the ground and were taken prisoner, except for Alvin G. Bader, whose parachute failed to open.

Below, you’ll find a link to an ad-free version of “Combat America” on the Internet Archive, and another link to a more detailed story of Clark Gable’s first flight over Europe.