In 1999, a Coventry man revealed that one day during WW2, he had a long chat (and probably a drink or two) with an American at the Abbey Hotel – That American was none other than Clark Gable.1
He is best known for his role in the 1939 Acadamy Award-winning film: ‘Gone With The Wind’. He eventually starred in more than 60 films in his 37-year career.2
Abbey Hotel photo – Courtesy of the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society. (ref. Reg Palmer collection)
Although earning a fortune at Hollywood, Gable was determined to ‘do his bit’ for the war effort, joining the Army Air Force, who, at the time, were controlled by the United States Army. He qualified as an aerial gunner and was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group. He became a second lieutenant, and later a major.3
Unsurprisingly, his employers at MGM, were not happy that he was off to war. Studio executives persuaded the Army Air Forces to reassign their most valuable asset to non-combat duty. Gable, however, didn’t get away from films though, as he became part of a motion picture-unit which made films for recruiting aerial gunners.
During 1943 he was stationed at RAF Polebrook at Oundle, near Peterborough. During his time in England he went on five official combat missions in B-17s (before the intervention of MGM), but his colleagues later revealed that he went on many more missions – unofficially. He was awarded several medals, including: the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.
We will never know why he was in Kenilworth that day in 1943, probably just passing through. But on his departure, he told the man from Coventry: “Thank you for not talking about the films.” 4
