Frederick A Leard

Military
media-39573.jpeg UPL 39573 The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/ Bombardier - Lt. Norman Whalen Navigator/Nose Gunner - Kneeling, second from right, 1st Lt. Raymond Hubbard/ Radio Operator/ Gunner, SSgt. Harvey Treace/Gunner, TSgt Clarence Weckesser/ Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner, SSgt. Neville Benson/Waist Gunner, SSgt. Joseph LaBranch/ Gunner, SSgt. Frederick Leard/Waist Gunner . This photo taken the next morning after the Ploesti mission. Monday August 2nd, 1943.

Black Sunday - Ploesti - Michael Hill

Object Number - UPL 39573 - The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/...

Technical Sgt. Frederick A. Leard was a waist gunner assigned to the Element Lead B-24D Liberator bomber, named, Hail Columbia, 41-11825, flown by Col. John R. "Killer" Kane and Lt. John S. Young on Operation Tidal Wave, the large mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943.

TSgt. Leard had been flying and fighting over North Africa and all over the Mediterranean Theater of War for many months when he learned he would be flying to Ploesti with Col. Kane and Lt. John Young in, Hail Columbia, instead of flying with Lt. Young in their regularly assigned airplane, the B-24D, Kickapoo, which was assigned a replacement crew for the Ploesti mission. This seemingly random crew reassignment proved fortunate for Sgt. Leard and Lt. Young, because, Kickapoo's replacement crew were killed taking off for the Ploesti mission, 7 KIA, minus two, who survived but were badly burned, 2 WIA-RTS, after suffering multiple engine failures and a fire shortly after getting, Kickapoo, into the air, when they crashed in flames trying to land back at Lete Airbase at Benghazi. Fred Leard and all of, Hail Columbia's regular crew from the 344th Bomb Squadron, survived the Ploesti bombing mission, with minor injuries to several of the gunners.



Sgt. Frederick Leard received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for his actions defending his and Lt. John Young's B-24D off the coast of Malta, and an Oak Leaf Cluster for his actions over Ploesti. 1 Aug 43.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-29680
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023226 / O-54160
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill ---- Personal Archives - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of August 1, 1943 - James dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date
Changes

Frederick A Leard: Gallery (1 items)