Leo served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot in the 878th Bomber Squadron, 499th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Onondaga County, New York prior to the war.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy Class of 1943 in June at West Point, New York and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He underwent B-29 aircraft operational combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field near Salina, Kansas and was then deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 878th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
On December 18, 1944, he flew in the left seat as the Airplane Command Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Tail Code V-Square-24 (Serial # 42-24773). It was one of 89 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company and Aircraft Engine Plants near Nagoya, Japan.
Flak from anti-aircraft artillery was meager and Japanese fighter aircraft attacks were described as moderate. However, his aircraft sustained approximately 30 fighter attacks and went into a steep wing over to the left dive, with flames coming from the forward bomb bay area and smoke trailing from the # 2 engine.
When last sighted, two enemy fighter planes followed his aircraft as it descended through the cloud cover at 20,000 feet.
He was declared "Missing In Action" during the war and was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-026122
Story by Sam Pennartz
He resided in Onondaga County, New York prior to the war.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy Class of 1943 in June at West Point, New York and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He underwent B-29 aircraft operational combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field near Salina, Kansas and was then deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 878th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
On December 18, 1944, he flew in the left seat as the Airplane Command Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Tail Code V-Square-24 (Serial # 42-24773). It was one of 89 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company and Aircraft Engine Plants near Nagoya, Japan.
Flak from anti-aircraft artillery was meager and Japanese fighter aircraft attacks were described as moderate. However, his aircraft sustained approximately 30 fighter attacks and went into a steep wing over to the left dive, with flames coming from the forward bomb bay area and smoke trailing from the # 2 engine.
When last sighted, two enemy fighter planes followed his aircraft as it descended through the cloud cover at 20,000 feet.
He was declared "Missing In Action" during the war and was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-026122
Story by Sam Pennartz
Leo served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot in the 878th Bomber Squadron, 499th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Onondaga County, New York prior to the war.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy Class of 1943 in June at West Point, New York and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He underwent B-29 aircraft operational combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field near Salina, Kansas and was then deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 878th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
On December 18, 1944, he flew in the left seat as the Airplane Command Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Tail Code V-Square-24 (Serial # 42-24773). It was one of 89 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company and Aircraft Engine Plants near Nagoya, Japan.
Flak from anti-aircraft artillery was meager and Japanese fighter aircraft attacks were described as moderate. However, his aircraft sustained approximately 30 fighter attacks and went into a steep wing over to the left dive, with flames coming from the forward bomb bay area and smoke trailing from the # 2 engine.
When last sighted, two enemy fighter planes followed his aircraft as it descended through the cloud cover at 20,000 feet.
He was declared "Missing In Action" during the war and was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-026122
Story by Sam Pennartz
He resided in Onondaga County, New York prior to the war.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy Class of 1943 in June at West Point, New York and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He underwent B-29 aircraft operational combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field near Salina, Kansas and was then deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 878th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
On December 18, 1944, he flew in the left seat as the Airplane Command Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Tail Code V-Square-24 (Serial # 42-24773). It was one of 89 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company and Aircraft Engine Plants near Nagoya, Japan.
Flak from anti-aircraft artillery was meager and Japanese fighter aircraft attacks were described as moderate. However, his aircraft sustained approximately 30 fighter attacks and went into a steep wing over to the left dive, with flames coming from the forward bomb bay area and smoke trailing from the # 2 engine.
When last sighted, two enemy fighter planes followed his aircraft as it descended through the cloud cover at 20,000 feet.
He was declared "Missing In Action" during the war and was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-026122
Story by Sam Pennartz
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Other Records
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