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name
LEACH, John Reuben Jr - Date of
birth
12 August 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Childress, Childress County, Texas -
Hometown
California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-690118 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
612th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 May 1944 - Place of
death
Hohnboestel/Landligen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 38 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John R. Leach (father)
Cora L. (Curd) Leach (mother)
Maurice Leach (brother)
R. Maxwell Leach (brother)
David Leach (brother)
Doris Leach (sister)
Katherine (Stewart) Leach (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39943 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Lassie Come Home
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 4587
More information
This was one of the Group's less successful missions. The 401st provided the Lead and High Boxes of the 94th Combat Wing, and cloud cover over Berlin made bombing by PFF (radar) necessary. Unfortunately, when the lead aircraft opened its bomb bay doors over the IP (initial Point), a malfunction of its electrical system caused its bombs to be released. Seeing the leader's bombs fall, the other aircraft in the wing formation dropped their bombs as well. Then, boxed in between wings ahead and behind them, the 94th Combat Wing was forced to fly over the target with empty bomb bays. Intense FLAK over the target resulted in battle damage to two-thirds of the 1st Air Division bombers. The 401st lost one aircraft and crew, piloted by Lt. Browning O. Grimmet (42-39943), which was hit by flak.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Tina (Leach) Lundy (niece)
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Fort Collins Express-Courier - 21 May 1944