Springfield (O) Daily News
Friday, April 20, 1951
Front page-p.2

Impressive Military Rites Held for Capt. Arthur B. Cleaveland
by Neal Land

The Air Force gave a last impressive salute to a Springfield man who had served it honorably and heroically.
Fifty officers and airmen, including a major general from Washington D. C., participated in the military funeral for Capt. Arthur B. Cleaveland. 32, an ace pilot who died last Sunday in Walter Reid Hospital in Washington, D. C. The military rites were in Ferncliff Cemetery.
The sun shone benignly on a long row of flower-filled baskets and sprays at the graveside. Before the arrival of the funeral escort, there was one unmistakable article that connoted that Capt. Cleaveland was to be buried here. This was a spray having "Barney" spelled out by an arrangement of white carnations.
Later a contingent of airmen from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base arrived at the cemetery. These assumed their positions for the service under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer Kurt Linden. There were 26 airmen in the group of escorts, three in the color guard, eight in the firing squad and six pallbearers.
All was quiet and solemn as the funeral procession of cars slowly came into the cemetery. Two carloads of air officers were in the procession. These were the honorary pallbearers, all officers from the Air National Guard Bureau at Washington, D. C. Capt. Cleaveland had been assigned to this Bureau before his death.
Among the honorary pallbearers were Maj.-Gen. Earl T. Rickas, chief of the Air national Guard and deputy chief of the Guard Bureau. Lt. -Col. I. G. Brown, Capt. Frank Easley, Lt.-Col. Edward Ellington, Maj. Robert Terrill, Maj. Reo Trail and Lt.-Col. Winston P. Wilson
These posted themselves beside the active pallbearers in front of the flag-draped casket. Then a command was give to present arms. Airmen at attention raised their arms in a salute. They stood in this position until the body was over the grave.
Then the flag was lifted and held in suspended position over the casket by the active pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers stood in two rows at the head of the casket.
The Rev. A. L. Anderson, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, delivered a prayer while the group at the graveside lowered their heads.
Another command to present arms was given. Then a sharp crack of exploding shells startlingly sounded. Seven rifles were fired three times making a total of 21 rounds.
Then a bugler stepped forward and the plaintive notes of taps trembled in the air.
The six airmen beside the body then folded the flag which had been held over the casket. The ceremony was concluded.
Prior to the burial, services were held at Grace Lutheran Church.
Capt. Cleaveland was the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Cleaveland of 235 E. McCreight av. He was a native of Springfield and a graduate of Springfield High School.
Before the United States began fighting in World War II, Capt. Cleaveland was contributing to the Allied cause by serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Later he served with the British Royal Air Force in the Battle for Malta and finally he transferred to the U. S. Air Force.
Numerous and laudable were the feats of this pilot during the war. His missions were dangerous ones. On one occasion he was shot down and crash-landed over the Cliffs of Dover. His planes were constantly being struck by enemy fire, but he stacked up a record of downing many enemy soldiers.
He was the first person to fly a spitfire off an aircraft carrier.
His decorations included the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with cluster, Purple Heart, Malta Cross, Presidential Citation, and numerous American and British campaign ribbons.
His was the type of bravery that led to winning the war.
In recognition of his services the Air Force sent the six officers from Washington, two of whom accompanied the body here to the Littleton funeral home on Wednesday.
Maj.-Gen. Rickas and Lt.-Col Wilson landed at the Springfield Airport in their plane Friday morning. The other three officers arrived here Thursday evening.
At the time of his death, Capt. Cleaveland and his family were living at Arlington, Va. The pilot had been ill during the past year.
He is survived by his parents; his widow, Martha; two children, Sandra Ann and Arthur Bernard, and a sister, Mrs. Hugh A. Schneider of Urbana