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Capt.
Leo Kenneth English
533rd
BS/381st BG(H)
O-731041
Acknowledgement: Information courtesy of the
381st
BG Association and the American Battlefield Monument Association
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Captain, O-731041,
Bombardier
533rd BS/381st BG,
Heavy
Entered the Service
from: Ohio
Died: October 9, 1943
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery
Cambridge, England
Awards: Air Medal
with Oak Leaf Cluster
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381st War
Diary:
At some point the
381st created a model crew. The
model crew consisted of:
2nd
Lt James Deeds, pilot
2nd
Lt Karl Franek, co-pilot
2nd
Lt Joseph Rothenberg, navigator
2nd
Lt Leo K English, bombardier
S/Sgt
Louis Smulowitz
S/Sgt
Irwin Bohlandeer
S/Sgt
James J Lintgen
S/Sgt
Elwood Harris
S/Sgt Joseph J Kristopovich
S/Sgt
Christian Langolf
9 October
1943:
At 12.00 hrs, 16
B-17s from this command took off with the target the Focke-Wolf factory at
Anklam, Germany. The Target is thought to have been destroyed. The greater part
of the flight was over the North Sea, and three aircraft failed to return to
base.
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Crew on plane
42-30012:
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Rank
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Name |
Position
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Fate
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Date
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MAJ
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Landon
Hendricks
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Pilot
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KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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CAPT
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Robert
L. Withers
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CP |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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CAPT
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William
T. Turner
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NAV
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KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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CAPT
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Leo
K. English
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BOM
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KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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T/SGT
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Charles
C. McNeil
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TTE |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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T/SGT
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John
M. Willdrige
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RO |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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S/SGT
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Jerome
Arbiter
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BT |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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S/SGT
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Ernest
A. O'hara
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LW |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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S/SGT
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Lord
A. Howard
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RW |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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2LT
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William
P. Duggan
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TG |
KIA
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Oct
9, 1943
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Major Hendricks was on his return trip over the
North Sea and apparently felt he was out of the fighter zone and left the
formation. He was jumped by fighters and was seen to lose altitude rapidly, and
estimates of four to six were seen to leave the ship. Some crews reported the
aircraft ditched, and one reported that the ship exploded just before it hit the
water. However it should be pointed out that the aircraft were flying at
approximately 15,000 ft, and assuming that Major Hendricks’ aircraft was in
control, the distance between the formation and the ship as it reached sea level
would be at least 20 – 30 miles, consequently the accuracy of the observation
may be questioned. |
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MACR: 887
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7 |
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1Lt William J. McDaniel statement:
I saw some rockets burst to the left of Major Hendricks aircraft. The No.
1 engine was smoking for 15 or 20 minutes; after the fighter attack had stopped,
he pulled out of formation and dropped back. That is the last I saw of
him. |
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S/S
Howard A. Pope:
I saw Major Hendricks ship leave the formation all four engines were
running. He trailed the squadron for about 20 minutes. the last
fighter attack started his number 2 & 3 engines burning. Six parachutes
came out of the ship, when I next saw the airplane it was on the water burning. |
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1Lt Donald J. Hutan statement:
I saw Major Hendricks ship go down with two engines burning. I
also saw six parachutes open. The airplane blew up as it was ditched in
the North Sea. |
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If you can provide more information,
please Contact Us. |
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