Leo A LaCasse
MilitaryBack 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.
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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yank
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Great Saling
- Site type: Military site
- Known as: Camp Blainey
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Manchester, New Hampshire | 4 July 1920 | |
Other Lives in |
Roanoke, VA, USA |
Revisions
Correspondence with Leo LaCasse's friend, Charlie Penick.
See also: http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/wwii-vets-receive-highest-distinction…
http://www.roanoke.com/news/visiting-b--flying-fortress-carries-load-of…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self