Hotis, Leo Constantine

Individual Personnel Data
Name Hotis, Leo Constantine   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 32427753   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 3 September 1943, effective 3 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - transferred to Casual Pool,12th RCD, AAF Station 591, effective 7 March 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
Last Duty Date 7 March 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 6 March 1944.
Awarded the Air Medal for completing 5 missions, with Oak Leaf Clusters for 10, 15, and 20 missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 17 July 1921
  • His son reported 'I believe he was also credited with having shot down 2 German Aircraft' but mission records only list one. This may be a case of 'claimed, not confirmed.'
  • Placed on seven days Detached Service to Moulsford Manor, Berkshire (a Flak House) on 6 January 1944 per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 6 January 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Bedsole, Joseph Linyer, Jr⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Cosentino, George (NMI)⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Groh, Harold Chester⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Wismann, William Charles⇗BombardierCT
T/SGT. Madden, Joseph Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
PVT. Maruszak, Karol Leonard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hotis, Leo ConstantineBall Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. McMichael, Marion Louis⇗Tail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Woodall, Arthur James, Jr, "Woody"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
PVT. Mazewski, Michael Henry, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Wing, Buckinghamshire.
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth, AAF Station 107, for reasons unknown, and returned immediately to home base.
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Podington due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29768⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37758⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back, #3 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back with a supercharger failure, apparently after entering into enemy airspace and thereby earning combat credit.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
40⇗ 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group, low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group high Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead. 'Turned back because he could not catch our group and too close to Enemy Territory to keep trying.'
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron Lead, Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. A British Army observer and war correspondent, Maj. Anthony Cotterell, flew with this crew.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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