Charles G. Cleveland

Charles G. Cleveland (born November 13, 1927) is a retired American Air Force lieutenant general and flying ace who was commander of the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. As of October 2019, he is the only living American fighter ace of the Korean War.[1] After the death of Wang Hai in August 2020, he became the last living flying ace from the Korean war. He is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.[2]

Charles G. Cleveland
Nickname(s)	Chick
Born	(1927-11-13) November 13, 1927 Honolulu, Hawaii
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1949–1984
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing
Commands held	92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron 20th Tactical Fighter Wing 3535th Navigator Training Wing Air Training Command Air University
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (4)
Other work	President of the American Fighter Aces Association

Biography

Cleveland was born in Honolulu in 1927. He graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1949, earned his master's degree in political science at Xavier University, Cincinnati, in 1966 and attended the six-week advanced management program at Harvard University in 1969.

He entered Air Force basic pilot training in June 1949 Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and received his wings in September 1950 upon completion of advanced pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He then served as a pilot with the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia.

Cleveland transferred to South Korea in March 1952, where he flew F-86s as a flight commander with the 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Kimpo Air Base. During his combat tour of duty, he shot down five MiG-15s and is credited with one probably destroyed and four damaged.

He returned to Turner Air Force Base in November 1952, where he again served in the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing. In July 1957 he transferred to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. While there he served in various operations assignments with the 27th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 522nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron and the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron.

Cleveland went to England in February 1959 as a flight commander and operations officer in the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodbridge. From 1962 to 1963, he commanded the 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters. He then returned to the United States and served at the Tactical Air Command Systems Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as F-111 project officer. In May 1966 he transferred to the Republic of Vietnam as executive assistant to General William Westmoreland, commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

Returning to England in June 1967, he became a student at the Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare, the top RAF service school. Upon graduation in December 1967, he went to RAF Bentwaters, England, where he became special assistant to the director of operations for the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. In July 1968 he was assigned to the staff of Headquarters Third Air Force at RAF South Ruislip, England. He served there as director of tactical evaluation, and then as special assistant for F-111 matters. Cleveland became vice commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Upper Heyford, England, in April 1970. During this period the wing converted from F-100s to F-111s.

In June 1971 Cleveland assumed command of the 3535th Navigator Training Wing at Mather Air Force Base, California. He headed the U.S. Air Force School of Navigation there. He transferred to Air Training Command headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base as chief of staff.

In June 1972, and assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for technical training in February 1974. In July 1975 he became director of personnel programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was named vice commander of Air Training Command in March 1979, and assumed his present command in July 1981.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours, including more than 3,700 in jet aircraft, such as F-80s, F-84s, F-86s, F-100s, F-101s, F-4s and F-111s. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Republic of Korea Order of Military Merit, Chung Mu.

He was promoted to Lieutenant General on August 1, 1981, with date of rank July 28, 1981.

Cleveland (right), along with fellow aces Henry Buttelmann and Cecil G. Foster, at Nellis Air Force Base in 2013

In 2008, Cleveland was recognized by the Air Force as its 40th jet fighter ace of the Korean War 55 years after the armistice of July 1953. Newly discovered documentation from the Russian Air Force, as well as eyewitness accounts by Cleveland's wingmen, provided evidence to support converting one of his 'two probably destroyed' into his fifth confirmed kill from dog fights over Mig Alley during the Korean War.

In October 2008, he was awarded a Silver Star for action in Korea on September 21, 1952.

On May 20, 2015, Cleveland was one of 77 American flying Aces to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony in Washington D.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow on behalf of the American people.[3]

Following the death of fighter ace Henry Buttelmann in September 2019, Cleveland is currently the last living American jet ace of the Korean War.[1]

Awards and Decorations

His awards include:

  Command Pilot Badge

	Air Force Parachutist Badge

	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Silver Star
	Legion of Merit
	Distinguished Flying Cross with V device and bronze oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Korean Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars
	Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Republic of Korea Order of Military Merit, Chung Mu
	Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
	United Nations Service Medal for Korea
	Vietnam Campaign Medal
	Korean War Service Medal

See also

• List of Korean War flying aces

References

1. "Korean War ace, longtime Las Vegas resident Hank Buttelmann dies". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
2. "Ace: Charles G. "Chick" Cleveland". americanfighteraces.com. The American Fighter Aces Association. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
3. Gore, Leada (May 20, 2015). "Alabama's 'Fighter Ace' Lt. Gen. Charles Cleveland receiving Congressional Gold Medal today". AL.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "".

Further reading

• Hammel, Eric (2010) [1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081. ISBN 0671529080.
• Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614. ISBN 978-0935553611.
• Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855325969. ISBN 9781855325968.
• Tillman, Barrett (1979). Hellcat: The F6F in World War II (1st ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1557509918. ISBN 1557509913.