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name
LEIDER, Roland Nicholas - Date of
birth
14 May 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16170961 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
3 km south of Pessin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 8 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Nick F. Leider (father)
Ruth Leider (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38060 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Texas Bluebonnet
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of munitions dump and aircraft factories
MACR: 9508
More information
T/Sgt Roland N. Leider graduated from Von Steuben High School in 1942 and attended Wright Junior College.He joined the U.S. Army Reserve at Camp Grant, Illinois on 13 May 1943.
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
One crew member was taken prisoner, and eight men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.org, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Chicago Tribune - 27 February 1945, Von Steuben High School 1942