Leighton served as a Staff Sergeant & Nose Gunner/Bombardier on B-24J (#42-109921), 701st Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Sagadahoc County, Maine prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on April 22, 1942 in Portland, Maine. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Retail manager and also as Married.
Leighton was "Killed In Action" when his B-24J was hit by flak and crashed near Wizernes, France during the war. He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Normally the B-24's had a crew of 10. However on this trip there was only a crew of 9. S/Sgt Leighton served dual rolls as Nose Gunner and Bombardier. It was highly unusual for an enlisted airmen to perform the duty of "Bombardier" as it was normally an Officer's position.
Service ID: 31101464.
~
Report from another pilot:
Over the target of Wizernes, France, I saw 42-109921 from our group get hit by flak. The tail was shot off and the ship peeled off and spun down. Three chutes were seen.
~
Crew of B-24J (#42-109921):
2nd Lt. Howard H. Kelley survived the war and went home.
Henry, Harold G., T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, Missouri, MIA
Kelley, Howard H., 2nd Lt, Navigator, POW
Lanier, Sidney T., S/Sgt, Radio Operator, Texas, MIA
Martin, Edward R., Pfc, Right Waist Gunner, Ohio, KIA
McDonough, Denis B., Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, California, KIA
Miller, Robert O., 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Alabama, KIA
Milliken, Leighton E., S/Sgt, Gunner/Bombardier, Maine, KIA
Pietz, Milton F., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, Missouri, MIA
Rogers, Layne, Jr., 1st Lt, Pilot, Illinois, MIA
(Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett)
Leighton served as a Staff Sergeant & Nose Gunner/Bombardier on B-24J (#42-109921), 701st Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Sagadahoc County, Maine prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on April 22, 1942 in Portland, Maine. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Retail manager and also as Married.
Leighton was "Killed In Action" when his B-24J was hit by flak and crashed near Wizernes, France during the war. He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Normally the B-24's had a crew of 10. However on this trip there was only a crew of 9. S/Sgt Leighton served dual rolls as Nose Gunner and Bombardier. It was highly unusual for an enlisted airmen to perform the duty of "Bombardier" as it was normally an Officer's position.
Service ID: 31101464.
~
Report from another pilot:
Over the target of Wizernes, France, I saw 42-109921 from our group get hit by flak. The tail was shot off and the ship peeled off and spun down. Three chutes were seen.
~
Crew of B-24J (#42-109921):
2nd Lt. Howard H. Kelley survived the war and went home.
Henry, Harold G., T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, Missouri, MIA
Kelley, Howard H., 2nd Lt, Navigator, POW
Lanier, Sidney T., S/Sgt, Radio Operator, Texas, MIA
Martin, Edward R., Pfc, Right Waist Gunner, Ohio, KIA
McDonough, Denis B., Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, California, KIA
Miller, Robert O., 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Alabama, KIA
Milliken, Leighton E., S/Sgt, Gunner/Bombardier, Maine, KIA
Pietz, Milton F., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, Missouri, MIA
Rogers, Layne, Jr., 1st Lt, Pilot, Illinois, MIA
(Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett)
Inscription
1LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on February 23, 1950.
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