Leon R Kershaw
Military
media-22280.jpeg
UPL 22280
Richard S. Hosman Crew
398th BG - 601st BS
Standing Left to Right: Richard S. Hosman (P), Roland D. Mundhenke (CP), Donald J. Coffee (N), Walter P. James (B)
Kneeling Left to Right: Floyd R. Aaron (FE), Jerauld N. Clements (R/O), William H. Brown (WG), Frederick W. Hinze (WG), Theodore P. Blank (TG), Leon R. Kershaw (BTG)
B-17G-60-BO #42-102854 "Arkansas Rambler" 222nd CCTS - Ardmore, OK
398th BG - 601st BS
Standing Left to Right: Richard S. Hosman (P), Roland D. Mundhenke (CP), Donald J. Coffee (N), Walter P. James (B)
Kneeling Left to Right: Floyd R. Aaron (FE), Jerauld N. Clements (R/O), William H. Brown (WG), Frederick W. Hinze (WG), Theodore P. Blank (TG), Leon R. Kershaw (BTG)
B-17G-60-BO #42-102854 "Arkansas Rambler" 222nd CCTS - Ardmore, OK
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-408113
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Iowa, USA | 30 January 1926 | |
Enlisted |
Fort Snelling, MN 55417, USA | 5 February 1944 | |
Other 1st Combat Mission |
Merseburg, Germany | 2 November 1944 | Mission #1 - Mersberg, Germany We had no. 1 today. It was to be Mersberg. It was rough as hell. We were in Flak for 30 minutes and got fighters right in the worst flak. They were insane. Lost 3 planes. Bassingbourn lost 13. Got a hole in our right Tokyo & Ted had one about a foot from his rear. We got 16 holes in our ship. My mask froze to walk around and I nearly passed out. We carried 18 250lb G.P.’s 8hr 30”; 4 hrs. O2 |
Other 48 Hour Pass |
London, UK | 23 November 1944 | We got our 48’s today. We went to London. Didn’t do much the first night. Went and got a swell house to stay in. Went to Piccadilly. Saw the commandos. One said that we could go home with her for 7 pounds or 28 bucks. Saw “History was made at Night.” with Chas Boyer. Found a place at 11:30 where we could get steaks. Were they good. |
Other 12 Combat Mission |
Bingen, Germany | 29 December 1944 | Mission #8 - Bingen, Germany We went to Bingen Germany to bomb marshalling yards. We were gone 7 hrs 35 min. The flak was accurate as hell. They put 3 thru the wings. One clipped the top spar. We got 9 holes. Thought it was my last mission. It scared hell out of me. We carried 18-250lb G.P. bombs full gas load. Flew the left waist. 5 bombs hung up and were going to take them back when 2 bursts of flak hit in the bomb bay and shook them out. |
Other 21st Combat Mission |
Berlin, Germany | 28 March 1945 | Mission #21 – Berlin, Germany Berlin #21 8 hrs 30 min flying time. 4 days mission time. Easy mission. 6-G.P.’s; 2-iB’s. Went down in Brussels because we were low on gas. Stayed 4 days |
Other 30th Combat Mission |
Munich, Germany | 21 April 1945 | Mission #30 – Munich, Germany Munich #30 10 hrs 35 min. 5 hrs O-2 Easy mission We carried 45’s for protection in case of bail-out in enemy territory. 16-250 G.P.’s. Finis All done No more Whoopee! |
Died |
Littleton, CO, USA | 29 March 2004 | |
Buried |
Denver, CO, USA | 1 April 2004 | Fort Logan National Cemetery Denver Denver County Colorado, USA Plot: Section 26b Site 147 |
Fort Dodge, IA 50501, USA | |||
Enlisted |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
398th History / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia