Leon Glenn Van Syckle

Military

Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. On 27-Jan-44, while taxiing after landing from a training flight, the landing gear switch of B-17G 42-31414 was placed in the up position instead of the flap switch. RTD.



Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt in B-17 42-38012 29-Jan-44 Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2275.



Awards: PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

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

People

Charles H Duke

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Joseph J Glonek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Stanley T Groski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Donald D Lamb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38444211
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Richard Lee Monfort

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687890
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

42-31414

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

42-38012

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

42-39904

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Penny
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

Places

Dulag Luft 12

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.

Stalag Luft I

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Monmouth County, NJ, USA 4 April 1922 Son of Leon Howard and Marie Louise [Schmitt] VanSyckle.

Enlisted

Newark, NJ, USA 29 July 1942 Newark, New Jersey

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 29 January 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I.

Other

Bailed out

Frankfurt, Germany 29 January 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt in B-17 42-38012 29-Jan-44 Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2275.

Died

Asbury Park, NJ 07712, USA 31 July 2012

Buried

Saint Catharine's Cemetery Sea Girt Monmouth County NJ Saint Catharine's Cemetery Sea Girt Monmouth County New Jersey

Based

Deenethorpe 29 January 1944 Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28605934
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95958001/leon-glenn-van_syckle

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-38012&Submit6=Go
https://www.fold3.com/image/28605934
https://www.fold3.com/page/83566428-leon-g-van-syckle/facts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95958001/leon-glenn-van_syckle

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 2275 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database