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Submit- Full
name
BRIGGS, Leon E - Date of
birth
28 April 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Missouri -
Hometown
Tahlequah, Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38588185 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Near Steinhuder Lake, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 13 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charley E. Briggs (father)
Anna L. (Hollinger) Briggs (mother)
Thelma L. Briggs (sister)
Syble E. Briggs (sister)
Louis E. Briggs (brother)
DeWayne J. Briggs (brother)
Dwights J. Briggs (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97071 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Andy's Dandys
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an oil depot
MACR: 13718
More information
Sgt Leon E. Briggs worked on a farm. He enlisted in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 29 July 1943.An Me 109 attacked the airplane from 6 o'clock high and shot the left wing completely away from the fuselage. The enemy fighter collided with the severed wing and both exploded. The remainder of B-17 spun down flaming and exploded either just before reaching the ground or on striking it. Approximately seven parachutes were counted in this general area. However, none was positively identificated as coming from this airplane. The entire crew of nine was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com