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name
BYERS, Leon Arthur - Date of
birth
1 February 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas -
Hometown
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18242246 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
859th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 July 1944 - Place of
death
Alikendorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 22 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Marvin J. Byers (father)
Pauline R. (Rosenstock) Byers (mother)
Beverly Byers (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40132 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: I'll Be Around
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers-Zweigwerke, aviation industry
MACR: 7230
More information
S/Sgt Leon A. Byers attended Forest Avenue High School in Dallas, Texas and was a clerk. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Dallas, Texas on 31 January 1943.After the bomber group dropped their bombs the fighter escort was drawn off to protect another formation. From that moment they were attacked by an overwhelming force of FW-190's.
The initial hit by enemy cannon fire killed both waistgunners, Byers and Brackins on the spot.
The plane went out of control, spinning as it fell.
Five men were able to bail out during the horror. As their chutes neared the ground the German soldiers below began firing at them.
Four crew members were taken prisoner, six were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Alikendorf.
On 18 February 1947, their remains were disinterred and evacuated to Margraten. At that time, the remains of S/Sgt Byers couldn't yet be identified and they were marked as Unknown X-864A. After investigation a positive identification was possible.
S/Sgt Byers was given his finale resting place on 30 November 1950.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.footnote.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Family Tree, IDPF
Photo source: Fred Munckhof, Dallas Public Library - Forest Avenue High School Collection, www.ancestry.com - Forest Avenue High School Yearbook 1941, Michel Beckers