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Personal info

Full name
WALDRON, Leo Francis
Date of birth
28 January 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
31301711
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 September 1944
Place of death
Wittmar, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 15 8

Immediate family

Members
George E. Waldron (father)
Margaret M. Waldron (mother)
Catherine M. Waldron (sister)
George R. Waldron (brother)
Mary P. Waldron (sister)
John J. E. Waldron (brother)
Lorraine M. (Seyfert) Waldron (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97187
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Miss Umbriago
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Braunkohle (BRABAG) synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 9410

More information

Sgt Leo F. Waldron graduated from Brockton High School in 1941. He was employed at Bethlehem Steel Company.

He enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts on 5 March 1943.

He was married to Lorraine Seyfert on 27 July 1943.

The airplane was flying in the low squadron of the Group. There were twelve airplanes in the squadron, of which only two returned to base. The formation was subjected to severe and intense fighter attacks in the vicinity. It is definitely established that also this airplane was lost due to these attacks, but no one could be found who could say definitely what happened.

It crashed in the wood of Asse-Denkte, north of Wittmar.

Sgt Waldron bailed out. He reached the ground successfully but was shot by German civilians. Also two other crew members were believed to be killed by civilians. Three other were killed in the plane. Only three survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 303rd Bomb Group, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.303rdbg.com/359miller.html, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: 303rd Bomb Group, Brockton High School 1941