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Personal info

Full name
SCHWEINEBRATEN, Leslie Howard
Date of birth
22 July 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Arden, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Meadow Lands, Washington County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
13168157
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 May 1944
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast of Tönnig, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 19 16

Immediate family

Members
George E. Schweinebraten (father)
Caroline M. Schweinebraten (mother)
George Schweinebraten (brother)
Carol S. Bowers (sister)
Marguerite Cole (cousin)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97787
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 5173

More information

Leslie H. Schweinebraten graduated from Chartiers Township High School. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 25 November 1942.

Just before making a 120° turn to avoid Heligoland and enter the enemy coast, the airplane was observed to be on fire after being attacked by enemy fighters. A tail gunner of another plane saw eight men bail out.

Only one crew member survived and was taken prisoner, nine were killed.

S/Sgt Schweinebraten body washed ashore and was first buried at the Brockeswalder Friedhof in Cuxhaven on 24 June 1944.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.footnote.com, The Washington Observer - Nov 3, 1944, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.303rdbg.com, www.newspapers.com - The Washington Observer