Leon F Harris

Military
media-13414.jpeg UPL 13414 Page 3 of 466th Bomb Group 'Roll of Honor' at All Saints Church, Weston Longville.

Uploaded

Object Number - UPL 13414 - Page 3 of 466th Bomb Group 'Roll of Honor' at All Saints Church, Weston Longville.

Killed in Action (KIA). B-24 AC #42-51231. Crashed returning from first combat mission. Seven of the crew were severely injured and three were Killed in Action (KIA).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-715288
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 5 November 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Lenwade, Norwich NR9, UK 5 November 1944 "I was pilot of B-24J #42-52231 on November 5, 1944 and had just returned from an operational mission. Shortly before approaching AAF Station 120, the engineer informed us that the gasoline supply would last buy 45 more minutes, and that he was going to transfer fuel. Upon entering the traffic pattern, power failure occurred in 3# and #4 engines. The co-pilot turned the booster pumps on, but a few seconds later, complete failure of all four engines occurred. We managed to keep the aircraft under control for a short time, but the ensuing crash was inevitable. - Robert D. Nelson

Buried

8 November 1944 Cambridge American Cemetery Plot D Row 1 Grave 64
Braintree, MA, USA 45 Bowers Road

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Roll of Honor
466th BG - List of Burials at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat supplement, Unit history / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Leon F Harris: Gallery (1 items)