Leigh, James Carl

Individual Personnel Data
Name Leigh, James Carl
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37226866
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #71 dated 15 August 1943, effective 15 August 1943.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 18 April 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 17 June 1921
  • Ditched and rescued on 16 September mission to Nantes, France.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #104 dated 25 September 1943.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Price, William Merriman, III⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Coleman, Lee Browning⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Harvey, Harry Blakely, Jr⇗NavigatorINT
2nd Lt. Arquette, Leroy Arthur⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Smith, Robert Eugene⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Beaty, Earl Richard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Griffin, Daniel (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Grant, Ralph Gilbert⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Leigh, James CarlFlexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 26 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel. Returned to Station 106 at 1530 hours. Flak hole in left elevator.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ditched in the English Channel Near Hope Cove, Knightsbridge, Devon (about 15 miles SE of Plymouth), after being damaged by enemy aircraft; crew rescued by a fishing boat; Leigh was injured and hospitalized in Hope Cove until 2 October; no MACR; all returned to duty.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29987⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back, the right waist gunner "could not stand altitude."
Sortie Report⇗
40⇗ 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation for duration of mission.
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, high Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead, because lead ship had to be replaced; Capt Frink transferred to this ship. Landed away at Kimbolton; bombs returned.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off
Lead group high Squadron lead. Did not take off.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Assumed position of high Squadron deputy, lead group.
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 		Tail Gunner 42‑31871⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37801⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group deputy, 40th Composite Combat Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97231⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
87⇗ 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗

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