Leon B Slobodzian

Military
A bomber crew of the 452nd Bomb Group on their return from the Romilly mission to France. Image via Walt Chochrek. A veteran has handwritten on the reverse: 'On just returning from Romilly, France, their first mission and the Group's second for a repeat performance. Original members of the "Punched Fowl". crew # 48, lead crew 730th Sqdn, 452nd Bomb Gro. Front row from left are Flight Officer Leon B Slobodzian, Bombardier; and S/Sgts George W Haggerty, Right Waist Gunner; Everett L Wales, Radio Operator, a media-380626.jpg FRE 1808 A bomber crew of the 452nd Bomb Group on their return from the Romilly mission to France. Image via Walt Chochrek. A veteran has handwritten on the reverse: 'On just returning from Romilly, France, their first mission and the Group's second for a repeat performance. Original members of the "Punched Fowl". crew # 48, lead crew 730th Sqdn, 452nd Bomb Gro. Front row from left are Flight Officer Leon B Slobodzian, Bombardier; and S/Sgts George W Haggerty, Right Waist Gunner; Everett L Wales, Radio Operator, and Walter- S- Chochrek, Engineers and Top Turret Gunner. Back row from left- 1st Lt Chester L Story, Navigator; 2nd Lt Frank L Houston, Co-pilot, 1st Lt Jimme H "The Skipper" Vallee, Pilot; Sgt James J Doherty, tail gunner; S/Sgt Ivan C Dixon, Lower ball gunner and Sgt Raymond Schumacher, left waist gunner.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1808 - A bomber crew of the 452nd Bomb Group on their return from the Romilly mission to France. Image via Walt Chochrek. A veteran has handwritten on the...

Leon B Slobodzian was a bombardier with the lead crew of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group. He flew 29 missions over 8 months in Europe and earned both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

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Units served with

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Collingswood, NJ, USA 20 September 1916

Died

Sarasota, FL, USA 10 September 2001

Buried

Sarasota, Florida

Revisions

Date
Contributorkatsmith09
Changes
Sources

Daily Republican August 5, 1943 Leon B. Slobodzian, son of William Slobodzian, of 201 High Street, received his bombardier wings and Second Lieutenant Commission of flight officer at graduation exercises at San Angelo, Texas. The graduation exercises marked the end of a rigourous 12-week course of training for the men in the operation of the deadliest weapon of World War II, the super accurate U.S. bombsight and a host of allied objects.
Lt. Slobodzian was graduated from Phoenixville High School and was a member of Battery C, 107th Field Artillery, prior to entering Officer Candidate School.

Daily Republican, October 12, 1944 First Lieutenant Leon B. Slobodzian, Kimberton, who won the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters overseas, has arrived in the States. He is the son of William Slobodzian. As a B-17 Fortress lead bombardier, Lt. Slobodzian flew 29 missions during eight months in the European Theater of Operation. Prior to entering the Army in February 1941, he engaged in the hotel business in Phoenixville. He is a graduate of the Phoenixville High School, class of 1934. Lt. Slobodzian arrived recently at Army Air Forces Redistribution Station No. 2 in Miami Beach for reassignment processing after completing his tour of duty outside the Continental United States.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection, Caption of FRE1808.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Relative

Leon B Slobodzian: Gallery (1 items)