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name
LECONEY, Howard Rudolph - Date of
birth
31 January 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Delanco, Burlington County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Riverside, Burlington County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12132799 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1944 - Place of
death
Mannheim, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 8 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas LeConey (father)
Charlotte L. Leconey (mother)
Charles LeConey ( brother)
Joseph LeConey (brother)
Lillian LeConey (sister)
Elizabeth LeConey (sister)
Anna LeConey (sister)
Charlotte LeConey (sister)
Lester LeConey (brother)
Marie LeConey (sister)
Donald LeConey (brother)
Thomas LeConey (brother)
Thelma LeConey (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31048 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball-bearing factories
MACR: 3866
More information
Howard Leconey was a mechanic before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Camden, New Jersey on 7 October 1942.The group was escorted by P-47s. As soon as this escort dived down upon some enemy fighters, a wave of fifteen FW-190s made a head-on attack from a great distance away, coming in slightly below. As they were continuing across the front of the formation, three additional FW-190s using the latter as a screen, suddenly broke beneath them and dove again into the formation. During this attack, seven B-17s from the squadron were shot down. This B-17 was hit in the center of the fuselage, the wings, and the tail and exploded nearly immediately.
Two crew members were taken prisoner, and eight men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.384thbompgroup.com, WWII Draft Card, 1930, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Guy Maes