Memorial

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2nd Lt Leroy Teachey attended college for 3 years and was a pattern and model maker. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Davis, North Carolina on 2 April 1942.

Returning from a bombing mission over Frankfurt am Maim the aircraft was hit by flak over Brussels, Belgium. The number one and two engines were hit and because of no oil pressure it was unable to feather the props. Also the left waist gunner, Edward Michonski, was hit in the foot. A few seconds after the command to bail out was given, te aircraft blew up. At that time, only the pilot and tho co-pilot were still on board. Lt Teachey was blown out of the plane and fell on a street in Kraaienbroek-Mariekerke, Belgium with his parachute unopened. The Germans removed his body and buried him. He is remembered by the local people at the place were he was found (4th picture). Also, one of the engines is preserved as a monument.

Two crew members were killed and are both buried at Ardennes. The other crew member is Floyd H. Chesmore. Five were taken prisoner and three escaped.

Statement of right waist gunner S/Sgt Lawrence J. Branden:
'Lt Teachey and Lt Chesmore (pilot) seemed to be all right as I left the ship. I glanced toward the cockpit and both were still in their seats as if nothing was wrong. Lt Chesmore had given the order to bail out and he seemed al right then.'
Statement from Sgt Billy T. Lewis, Tail Gunner:
"I saw six or eight single engine fighters attack the formation of B-17s. They knocked one of them out of the formation and then finished him off. The last I saw of the Fort it exploded just before going through the clouds. This all happened in the few minutes we had no escort, just before the target. It was to far to see any parachutes."
2nd Lt Teachey is remembered at the Teachey Cemetery, Rose Hill (Duplin County), North Carolina (3rd picture).

Lt Teachey was initially buried as Unknown at the British Cemetery Schoonselhof in Antwerp-Deurne, Belgium on 4 March 1944 by the Germans. He was disinterred and evacuated to Ardennes Cemetery. By comparison of his tetth with dental charts, he could be identified. He was interred in a temporary grave at Ardennes on 11 August 1948. He was again disinterred on 9 December 1948 and his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 31 January 1949. He was given his final resting place on 30 June 1949.