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Submit- Full
name
LEONHARD, Edgar P - Date of
birth
4 December 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Strassburg, Germany -
Hometown
Palestine, Harper County, Kansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38307808 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
342nd Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 July 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Steyregg, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 4 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Paul Leonhard (father)
Kate Leonhard (mother)
Theo Leonhard (brother)
Betty S. Leonhard (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-6183 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Linz, Austria
Mission: Aerial
MACR: 7125
More information
Edgar Leonhard graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1937.He enlisted in January 1943.
Statement from Sgt Walter P. Gemeill:
"Just before bombs away, the pilot of our aircraft called out, 'B-17 hit by flak at one o'clock.' It was the lead ship of our formation of the 97th Bomb Group (H), AAF. I turned my turret to watch it fall, and at this time the aircraft was going straight down. It was heading to the rear of our formation at the same time. It almost straightened out when I saw five chutes come out, and they all opened, and then the aircraft blew up. That is the last of the aircraft in trouble I saw.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Erwin Derhaag, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com, 1930 census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten