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Personal info

Full name
JACKSON, Leon R
Date of birth
18 August 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Elk City, Beckham County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Elk City, Beckham County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
O-671941
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
455th Bombardment Squadron,
323rd Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
5 February 1944
Place of death
Eps, 8 km north of St. Pol, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Arthur J. Jackson (father)
Maud Jackson (mother)
Vevia Jackson (sister)
Thelma Jackson (sister)
Edgar A. Jackson (brother)
Lawrence J. Jackson (brother)
Vida L. Jackson (sister)
Donald W. Jackson (brother)
Betty Marie Jackson (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
41-35000
Data
Type: B-26C
Nickname: Swamp Chicken
Destination: St. Pol, France
Mission: Bombing V-1 site
MACR: 2056

More information

1st Lt Leon R. Jackson enlisted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 26 March 1942.

He attended 4 years of high school and was a skilled compositor and typesetter before he enlisted.

The right engine of the aircraft was hit by flak. 1st Lt John K. Brush, S/Sgt William F. Vermillion and Sgt Barry E. McCandlish bailed out, landed safely by parachute and were captured. S/Sgt Michael R. Miyo also left the plane and landed safely, but escaped capture. 1st Lt Robert P. Mims, pilot, made an emergency landing near Eps, France. He survived the landing and was captured. 1st Lt Leon R. Jackson bailed out but his parachute didn’t open.

He was first buried at the British cemetery of St. Pol, France.

Source of information: Yannick, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com – 1920/1930/1940 Census, www.fold3.com – MACR 2056, www.findagrave.com, http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v024/v024p059.pdf
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, http://www.kathyamen.net/journal/mims.htm