World War II Cleland joined the Navy and became a naval aviator shortly before the
attack on Pearl Harbor. He married Ora Lee Cleland during his flight training. After graduation he was assigned to the
aircraft carrier USS Wasp flying the
Vought SB2U Vindicator and
Douglas SBD dive bombers, providing close air support for the initial
Guadalcanal landings. Cleland was on the
Wasp when she was sunk in September 1942, spending over 4 hours in the water, waiting for rescue. Cleland was then assigned to the
USS Lexington, becoming a
plank owner. During his service on board the "Gray Ghost", he became and air
ace, shooting down five
Japanese aircraft, unusual for a dive bomber pilot. He and his wingman were also credited with severely crippling the
Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō during the
Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. For his valor in action, he received the
Navy Cross and many other commendations. After returning to the United States, he evaluated captured enemy aircraft as a Navy test pilot. As a Navy Pilot, he is known as call sign "Cookie".
Interbellum Following World War II, Cleland acquired the Euclid Avenue Airport small airport in suburban
Willoughby, Ohio. As a
fixed-base operator, he offered flying lessons, banner towing, and air charters. Cleland bought a surplus F4U Corsair
Goodyear-manufactured FG-1A Corsair, BuNo.13841], modified it for air racing, named it "Lucky Gallon" and flew it in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race at an average of , finishing sixth. Cleland next obtained four Goodyear
F2G-1 Super Corsairs with a hefty 28-cylinder
Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major rated at more than . He modified these similarly to his FG-1D, additionally clipping the wingspan a few feet. He flew one of these, Race 74, to win the 1947 Thompson Trophy with a speed of . The 1948 Thompson saw Cleland return with more modifications to the previous years plane, but the experimental fuel, rated at 200
octane, proved too volatile and caused the induction scoops to be blown loose, taking him out of the race. Cleland returned in 1949, winning the Thompson for the second time flying Race 94, with a speed of . Wanting to expand his air charter service, Cleland and his partner purchased three surplus
PBY Catalina Flying Boats with the intent to modify them for the
Alaska hunting and fishing trade. The modifications proved too costly and the planes were sold. The field closed in the latter part of 1952 after Cleland had gone back into Navy active service.
Korean War In February 1951, he returned to active duty as commanding officer of carrier-based Fighting Squadron 653 and flew the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair in 67 combat missions over North Korea. In May 1952, he was shot down by enemy ground fire during an interdiction mission in North Korea, but was rescued later the same day. ==Later life==