Charles B Leighton

Military
media-25225.jpeg UPL 25225 Capt James A Verinis, [17 Prince St., New Haven, Conn.], co-pilot of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" holding the crew's mascot, "Stuka", and Capt Charles B Leighton, [427 Haslett St., East Lansing, Mich].

NARA Ref 342-FH-3A06278-F23980AC.

ww.fold3.com

Object Number - UPL 25225 - Capt James A Verinis, [17 Prince St., New Haven, Conn.], co-pilot of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" holding the crew's mascot,...

Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF in England from October 1942 to May 1943, during which time he completed his tour as Navigator aboard the B-17 "Memphis Belle". He and the crew next completed a war bond tour across the United States with the famous B-17 from June to September 1943. After the war bond tour, Capt Leighton served at Lockbourne Army Air Field, Ohio, and then with the 2132nd Army Air Force Base Unit at Maxwell Field, Alabama, where he received an honorable discharge on November 27, 1945.

Awards: DFC, AM (3 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, American Campaign.

Post war: After leaving active duty, Charles completed his degree and worked as a school teacher and guidance counselor.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Lieutenant-General Jacob L. Devers adresses a bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group in front of their B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle". Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis

41-24485

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Belle
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Anderson, IN, USA 22 May 1919

Enlisted

Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Rickenbacker International Airport, 7370 Minuteman Way, Columbus, OH 43217, USA 20 January 1942 Lockbourne Aaf Columbus Ohio

Other

Discharged

Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL 36112, USA 27 November 1945 Honourably discharged.

Died

Petoskey, MI 49770, USA 22 April 1991
Flint, MI, USA

Based

Bassingbourn Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF.

Other

War bond tour

United States War bond tour with Memphis Belle across the US.

Other

Based Ohio/Alabama

Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Rickenbacker International Airport, 7370 Minuteman Way, Columbus, OH 43217, USA 27 November 1945 Served at Lockbourne Army Air Field, Ohio, and then with the 2132nd Army Air Force Base Unit at Maxwell Field, Alabama.

Revisions

Date8 Dec 2016 15:15:09
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesCreated entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, biography, events, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and media associations
Sources

http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1260
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190
https://www.fold3.com/page/84184785_charles_b%20leighton/details/
https://www.fold3.com/page/43616467_charles_b%20leighton/details/

Charles B Leighton: Gallery (7 items)