Born in Iowa, Gale moved with his mother to Leadville where in completed school and graduated in the Class of 1936. Gale went to Wyoming to work and then to Portland, OR, before entering the Army. 1st Lt. Gale B. McGowan was KIA when the B-24 Liberator Bomber he was co-piloting had to ditch in the English Channel near Dover. 7 men died and 3 were rescued. Gale was assigned to the 446th Bomber Group and the 707th Bomber Squadron of the 8th Eighth Force. Gale lived in Leadville, Colorado for many years and graduated from Leadville High School. He might have also listed Wyoming or Oregon as residence since he worked in both of those states after graduating from high school.