Leo A LaCasse

Military
media-23881.jpeg UPL 23881 Leo LaCasse's original crew.

Back row, left to right:
F. W. Baxter, tail gunner
W. M. Swaney, radio operator gunner
F. D. Greenlaw, flight engineer
R. H. Blansit, top turret gunner
B. L. Hunter, radio operator gunner
C. H. Hill, waist gunner

Front row:
R .J. Roth, bombardier
L. A. LaCasse, pilot
H. A. Heuser, co-pilot
H. J. Zorn, navigator

Sent through to the American Air Museum by Charlie Penick, a friend of Leo LaCasse.

Object Number - UPL 23881 - Leo LaCasse's original crew. Back row, left to right: F. W. Baxter, tail gunner W. M. Swaney, radio operator gunner F. D. Greenlaw, flight...

Leo LaCasse served as a pilot with the 385th Bomb Group.



His friend Charlie Penick remembers:

'Now retired, Gen Leo Lacasse tells about his days at the Manor house [probably Elveden Hall]. The Lady in charge loved to be driven around my Leo to see her gardens and flowers. He can't remember the name of town it was close to but I believe this is it.'



'He was with Gen LeMay and drove back and forth from his Air Field. But even though all info talks about Gen LeMay being there they have no pictures of him in the house or any of the other Airmen. Leo helped take an older lady on flower tours several times. Her name was the same as the House. But he has no photos of him and her. I saw two of the movies made in the house. The place is very impressive.'



'He rose in ranks from a enlistment at age 16 to fly 35 Missions, shot down 3 times and awarded recently the highest French Medal and retired a General. A Special Person.'



DSM/ SS/ DFC w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 7 Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Yank
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Manchester, New Hampshire 4 July 1920

Other

Lives in

Roanoke, VA, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

385th BG newsletter August 1979

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

385th BG newsletter August 1979

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Leo A LaCasse: Gallery (2 items)