Leslie, Claude Robert

Individual Personnel Data
Name Leslie, Claude Robert   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 35507564   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 1 December 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 26 November 1943 per General Orders #29, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 2 December 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 20 August 1919
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) to Moulsford Manor, near Chelsey, Berkshire on or about 15 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #113 dated 15 June 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1335⇓ (5.166 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 733⇓ (Filesize N/A)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Witt, Francis John, Jr⇗PilotEV
Flt. Ofcr. Carter, T L (IO)⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Harris, Arthur Claude⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Derer, Joseph, Jr⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Sears, William Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Thomasson, Edward Arthmur⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Leslie, Claude RobertBall Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Douglas, Rufus James⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Seager, Francis Marvin⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Vodilko, Michael Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 22 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Ball Turret 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because they couldn't keep up with formation; detonation suspected.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3104 which was flown by the Sierens Crew.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30043⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over Yarmouth; could not reach altitude or keep up with formation; lower turret was out and top turret Vickers unit was 'vaporizing' (?).
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Pilot and co-pilot wounded in legs by shrapnel.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5855⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk - an RAF 'emergency landing field.'
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Ball Turret 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5849⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to #2 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29814⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Crew bailed out over England; aircraft crashed near Chetwode, UK on return.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; deputy flight lead.
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead; Ground Spare Aircraft (545th BS), replaced 42‑3441; turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
Sortie Report⇗

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