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Submit- Full
name
CRANDELL, Leonard John - Date of
birth
3 September 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois -
Hometown
Peoria County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-720197 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
67th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Area Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 16 | 26 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William W. Crandell (father)
Elsie M. (Day) Crandell (mother)
Thomas F. Crandell (brother)
Ralph T. Crandell (brother)
Lloyd J. Crandell (brother)
Floyd W. Crandell (brother)
Elsie M. Crandell (sister)
Joseph D. Crandell (brother)
Laverne H. (Shoemaker) Crandell (wife)
Janice S. Crandell (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-100314 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: "Kaybar"
Destination: Wesel, Germany
Mission: JAG Supply
MACR: 13601
More information
1st Lt Leonard J. Crandell graduated from Kingman High School in 1937.This aircraft was in number 11 position in the second squadron, high on the low lead squadron. The mission was JAG Supply at low altitude in the area 2.5 miles west-northwest of Wesel, Germany. At 1314 hours, after the supplies were dropped, aircraft 314 took a sudden climbing attitude, nose high and at the same time number one engine was observed smoking. The aircraft 314 then stalled out and nosed directly into the ground and exploded immediately. The entire crew was killed.
A memorial plaque can be found on the wall of the town hall in Hamminkeln, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Connie Crandell Loncke (niece), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Joseph D. Crandell, Marjan Crijnen, Joep Somers