Leon R Kershaw

Military
media-22280.jpeg UPL 22280 Richard S. Hosman Crew
398th BG - 601st BS

Standing Left to Right: Richard S. Hosman (P), Roland D. Mundhenke (CP), Donald J. Coffee (N), Walter P. James (B)

Kneeling Left to Right: Floyd R. Aaron (FE), Jerauld N. Clements (R/O), William H. Brown (WG), Frederick W. Hinze (WG), Theodore P. Blank (TG), Leon R. Kershaw (BTG)

B-17G-60-BO #42-102854 "Arkansas Rambler" 222nd CCTS - Ardmore, OK

Object Number - UPL 22280 - Richard S. Hosman Crew 398th BG - 601st BS Standing Left to Right: Richard S. Hosman (P), Roland D. Mundhenke (CP), Donald J. Coffee (N), Walter...

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-408113
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Iowa, USA 30 January 1926

Enlisted

Fort Snelling, MN 55417, USA 5 February 1944

Other

1st Combat Mission

Merseburg, Germany 2 November 1944 Mission #1 - Mersberg, Germany We had no. 1 today. It was to be Mersberg. It was rough as hell. We were in Flak for 30 minutes and got fighters right in the worst flak. They were insane. Lost 3 planes. Bassingbourn lost 13. Got a hole in our right Tokyo & Ted had one about a foot from his rear. We got 16 holes in our ship. My mask froze to walk around and I nearly passed out. We carried 18 250lb G.P.’s 8hr 30”; 4 hrs. O2

Other

48 Hour Pass

London, UK 23 November 1944 We got our 48’s today. We went to London. Didn’t do much the first night. Went and got a swell house to stay in. Went to Piccadilly. Saw the commandos. One said that we could go home with her for 7 pounds or 28 bucks. Saw “History was made at Night.” with Chas Boyer. Found a place at 11:30 where we could get steaks. Were they good.

Other

12 Combat Mission

Bingen, Germany 29 December 1944 Mission #8 - Bingen, Germany We went to Bingen Germany to bomb marshalling yards. We were gone 7 hrs 35 min. The flak was accurate as hell. They put 3 thru the wings. One clipped the top spar. We got 9 holes. Thought it was my last mission. It scared hell out of me. We carried 18-250lb G.P. bombs full gas load. Flew the left waist. 5 bombs hung up and were going to take them back when 2 bursts of flak hit in the bomb bay and shook them out.

Other

21st Combat Mission

Berlin, Germany 28 March 1945 Mission #21 – Berlin, Germany Berlin #21 8 hrs 30 min flying time. 4 days mission time. Easy mission. 6-G.P.’s; 2-iB’s. Went down in Brussels because we were low on gas. Stayed 4 days

Other

30th Combat Mission

Munich, Germany 21 April 1945 Mission #30 – Munich, Germany Munich #30 10 hrs 35 min. 5 hrs O-2 Easy mission We carried 45’s for protection in case of bail-out in enemy territory. 16-250 G.P.’s. Finis All done No more Whoopee!

Died

Littleton, CO, USA 29 March 2004

Buried

Denver, CO, USA 1 April 2004 Fort Logan National Cemetery Denver Denver County Colorado, USA Plot: Section 26b Site 147
Fort Dodge, IA 50501, USA

Enlisted

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

398th History / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Leon R Kershaw: Gallery (1 items)