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Submit- Full
name
ROMAN, Leo J - Date of
birth
19 January 1922 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
New Britain, Hardford County, Connecticut -
Hometown
New Britain, Hardford County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-2068051 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
668th Bombardment Squadron,
416th Bombardment Group, Light
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 March 1945 - Place of
death
4 miles northwest of Neerpelt, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 1 | 26 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Saturnin Roman (father)
Josephine (Becmer) Roman (mother)
Edmund Roman (brother)
John Roman (brother)
Joseph Roman (brother)
Alfonse Roman (brother)
Stephen Roman (brother)
Felix Roman (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-22523 -
Data
Type: A-26C
Destination: Vreden, Germany
Mission: bombing of a road junction
MACR: 15911
More information
2nd Lt Leo J. Roman was a production clerk at the Stanley Tools Division of the Stanley Works when he entered the Army in February 1943. He went overseas in October 1944.He was one of five brothers in the armed services.
His parents were immigrants from Poland.
The incident occured as the formation was assembling into position en route to their home base. The formation headed by Cpt Andersen was flying into the sun and climbing to its position when the tail of his airplane rose into the propeller of the lead airplane of another formation. As a result of the collision, both airplanes were damaged and knocked out of control. The airplanes spun earthward to crash and killing instantaneously all the occupants of both airplanes with the exception of bombardier-navigator, 1st Lt Robert L. Kirk, who successfully parachuted from the other plane.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census / 1940 Census
Photo source: Niek Schoonbrood, H. Coenen, Arie-Jan van Hees - Bomb 44-11 San Angelo AAF Texas