Leon C Huggard

Military
media-20022.jpeg UPL 20022 Standing: T/SGT Max K. Van Buren – FE; T/SGT Leon C. Huggard – RO; CPT Charles S. “Sam” Evans – P; 1LT Frederick A. Johnson – CP; 1LT George F. Adkins – B
Kneeling: S/SGT James A. Michaelson – G; S/SGT Lawrence R. Matson – Armorer/WG; S/SGT Darrell W. Latch – G
Missing: 2LT Walter M. Cline -- N; S/SGT Donald R. Conway -- FE

Winter 1944, Horsham St. Faith

The aircraft behind the crew is likely B-24J-5 FO, 42-50768, ARISE MY LOVE AND COME WITH ME. If so, this photo would have been taken just after either mission no. 21 on 30 October 1944 to Hamburg or mission no. 22 on 5 November 1944 to Karlsruhe.

Object Number - UPL 20022 - Standing: T/SGT Max K. Van Buren – FE; T/SGT Leon C. Huggard – RO; CPT Charles S. “Sam” Evans – P; 1LT Frederick A. Johnson – CP; 1LT...

Leon was working for the Illinois Central Railroad prior to enlisting in January 1943. After training he was crewed up and they flew a B-24 over via South America and North Africa before joining the group at Horsham-St-Faith. He flew on 30 missions (See pilot, Charles S. Evans, for list of missions) some to them to supply gasoline to Patton's 3rd Army. He was later employed as an electronics specialist.



Air Medal 5 clusters.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-664988
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Spotted Ass Ape : Dixie Belle II : Wonder Bread
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Breezy Lady/Superman/Marie
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 752nd Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40281) nicknamed "A Dogs Life". Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew 24, Sub co-pilot- Unk, Pilot Lt Vincent, Req Co-pilot- Lt Cronkite, Bombiagtor [sic] Lt Halvorsen, Genner- Sgt Johnson, RO- Valenzvela, Sgt, Eng- Sgt Lohr, GRR- Moss, Sgt, Sub Eng- Unk, Sub Gnr- Unk, Reg NT Gnr- wounded in hosp, Sgt Simpson.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: A Dog's Life
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Iowa, USA 25 October 1922

Enlisted

Herrold, IA 50109, USA 26 January 1943 Camp Dodge

Died

28 December 2004

Buried

Plainfield, IA 50666, USA 31 December 2004 Willow Lawn Cemetery Plainfield Bremer County Iowa, USA
Bremer County, IA, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty 8th

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Page 302 in the book THE SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition, D790.A2S45

Leon C Huggard: Gallery (1 items)