In Memory of Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard died 78 years ago today at the age of 33. Flying home to Clark after selling a record number of war bonds in her home state of Indiana, her plane crashed into Mount Potosi outside Las Vegas.
In the newspaper on January 20, 1942:
ROOSEVELTS SEND THEIR CONDOLENCES
A telegram of condolence from Pres. Roosevelt arrived Monday at the nearby ranch home of screen actor Clark Gable, whose film actress wife, Carole Lombard, was one of 22 persons killed Friday night in the crash of a huge airliner near Las Vegas, Nev. The message read:
“Mrs. Roosevelt and I are deeply distressed. Carole was our friend, our guest in happier days. She brought great joy to all who knew her and to the millions who knew her only as a great artist. She gave unselfishly of her time and talent to serve her government in peace and in war. She loved her country. She is and always will be a star, one we shall never forget, nor cease to be grateful to. Deepest sympathy.”
At the time of the crash, Miss Lombard was returning from Indianapolis where she participated in a recent government defense bond selling campaign
A year ago, when she and Gable were in the East, they stopped in Washington and met the president, Mrs. Roosevelt and members of the cabinet.
SENATE PAYS TRIBUTE
Washington–The Senate halted its business Monday to hear a brief tribute paid by Sen. Willis (R–Ind.) to Carole Lombard, movie actress, killed in an airplane crash last week.
Willis praised Miss Lombard as “a great actress and a loyal citizen,” citing her sales of more than $2,000,000 in defense bonds at an Indianapolis rally last week.
5 Comments
Dan
78 years ago- it hardly seems possible that so much time has passed. To think she was gone before the US actually even had to live through the horrific WWII. She was a wonderful woman and even though her life was so short, she certainly lived it to the fullest for the time she had 🙁
Kelley
If only her plane had been 500 feet higher. What a tragedy. Gable spent the rest of his life trying to replace her. The closest he came was Kay Spreckels.
Rhonda
Still sad today.
Thank you for all your terrific work that we Gable fans may enjoy this site.
Larry James
A superb actress. Boundless talent. One of America’s great movie stars. A patriot. One of the first Americans to give her life in fighting against the Nazis, the Japanese Military, and for liberty. We have not forgotten her.
Sally
I knew Carole Lombard’s aunt and some of her cousins. The cousins never met her as CL died before they were born but they all….girls….were/are beautiful and light hearted and very bright. Good genes, I would say.
Her aunt used to regale me with stories about Clark Gable and what a truly wonderful man he was.
She said , “A true gentleman in every sense of the word.”
The man didn’t seem to have an enemy.