By Mary Dodge Allen
When asked why he was still flying at age 100, John Gleason replied, "Why wouldn't I? I've never been a fearful person. When you fly, you either do things right or you don't. If you don't, then you're in big trouble."
John Gleeson as an Air Corps cadet, circa 1943
When he was twelve years old, John Gleeson cut out a front-page photo of the German zeppelin Hindenburg, as it burst into flames when it crashed in New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. He kept the photo posted on a wall where he slept. Instead of generating a fear of flying, it reinforced his desire to fly.
The Hindenburg in flames (Public Domain)
Early Life:
John Gleeson grew up in Long Beach, California. "We were very poor. We were even on government help for a while." During his childhood, Gleeson slept in a closet. "My father was an alcoholic. I don't know how my mother managed. She was an angel. I don't know how she fed us. We just had a very difficult life."
Gleeson went on his first flight in a friend's plane when he was a sophomore in high school. The friend buzzed cows in a pasture, and then flew the plane in a loop. A loud crack rang out, as if something on the plane had snapped. But his friend managed to land safely.
Shortly after this, Gleeson left school and went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC). This New Deal program provided jobs, living quarters, meals and income for families back home.
WWII Army Air Corps:
Gleeson was eighteen, and working as a laborer at a California shipyard, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. "I got up early the next day, December 8, 1941, to enlist to protect our country. I arrived there about 7 a.m., surprised to see a line of 20 or 30 other young men."
He enlisted in the Army, with hopes of joining the Air Corps, but his math skills were weak. Gleeson found a way to work around that. "My friend was good at math, so I gave my test to him to do the math, and he gave me his to do the English and that's the way I got into the Air Corps."
He was sent to the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, CA for training. While there, Gleeson was asked to transport a U.S. Army prisoner to San Francisco. On the way, Gleeson took a detour and stopped in at the famous Hollywood Canteen, started and operated by movie stars to boost the morale of servicemen by hosting dances and serving meals.
Hollywood Canteen (Alamy Photos)
Gleeson, dressed in a crisp uniform, walked into the canteen with his sullen, messy and unshaven prisoner. George Burns and Gracie Allen served him coffee and a doughnut. Then Gleeson spotted Betty Grable on the dance floor. "I went out and cut in on her and told the guy dancing with her to take a walk."
Movie Star Betty Grable (Public Domain)
While they were dancing, a military police officer walked up and asked if Gleeson was with the unshaven soldier slouched in the corner of the room. When the officer checked his pass, he saw Gleeson was AWOL, and he arrested him and the prisoner in front of Betty Grable.
They were sent to the stockade at San Bernardino. But the next day, Gleeson got a break. He was given a second chance to escort the prisoner to San Francisco, and he did it without taking any other detours.
After Gleeson completed flight training in 1944, he was assigned as flight engineer with a combat crew of a B-24 Liberator bomber. Based in Wales, they flew their bomber, named the "Midnight Prowler," on bombing missions throughout Europe.
John Gleeson, First row on far left, with crew of B-24 Midnight Prowler (family photo)
Gleeson said he experienced instances of "divine intervention," during his many flights. One time, all four engines went out at 10,000 feet. After several seconds of free fall, Gleeson finally restarted the engines, at 5,000 feet. "It was an absolute miracle I got them started so quickly. We were headed down to the icebergs in the North Atlantic Sea. Don't ask me how to explain it, because I can't."
Later in the war, Gleeson was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), to fly blackout bombers on secret night missions to resupply Resistance fighters. "When I flew the covert stuff, I didn't know who I was flying with. I would just introduce myself as the flight engineer. Everyone was dressed in civilian clothes. None of us carried any weapons."
Marriage and Move to Hawaii:
Barbara Jeanne (Gleeson family photo)
After the war ended, Gleeson returned home to Long Beach, CA. A friend set him up on a blind date at a party, and that's where Gleeson met Barbara Jeanne. "Here was this beautiful girl standing with a bunch of guys standing around her. I was like, 'Whoa!'" He and Barbara were married soon after.
During the Korean War, Gleeson re-enlisted. He was assigned to the 452nd Bomb Group Flight Test Department and flew Douglas B-26 Invaders. Soon after the war, he obtained his private pilot's license and then flew with the Civil Air Patrol in Sparks, Nevada.
Gleeson and his family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1972. He ran his own business, John Gleeson, Ltd., a contracting company specializing in engineering and marine sales/consulting. He retired from the business in 1975.
Later Years:
In 1980, he began flying with the Civil Air Patrol in Hawaii.
For years, he organized aviation classes at schools and at the YMCA, to get young people interested in flying.
He is the founder of the Great Hawaiian Air Race, involving aircraft from several countries. It generated about $150,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, over the span of five years.
He was one of the founders of the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island in Oahu, and he served as the museum's director for three years.
Movie poster for "Pearl Harbor," (Public Domain)
Gleeson was also involved in the 2001 movie, "Pearl Harbor." He organized a charter flight for movie executives, dubbed the First Attack Flight. It followed the route of the Japanese attackers and pointed out the radar sites and gun positions.
John and Barbara Gleeson (family photo)
John Gleeson and his wife Barbara had three daughters. She passed away a few months after their 74th anniversary. Gleeson said, "I had a wonderful, wonderful marriage." He misses his wife, but he vows to keep on flying as long as he can.
Gleeson formerly served as the commander of the glider squadron out of Mokuleia, and he proudly states, "Yes, I am still actively flying gliders."
John Gleeson in glider on 100th birthday (family photo)
John Gleeson flew in a glider on August 26, 2023, his 100th birthday!
John Gleeson on his 100th birthday at the Pacific Aviation Museum (family photo)
When asked about the life he has led, Gleeson responded, "What a journey!"
He offers this advice to people of all ages:
"Get motivated. And as long as you can do something... do something."
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Mary Dodge Allen is the winner of a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the local police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has worked as a Teacher, Counselor and Social Worker. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate. She is a member of the Florida Writer's Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers.
Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.
Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com: