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name
MCLEISH, Charles A - Date of
birth
1921 -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
Indiana -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16138068 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
756th Bombardment Squadron,
459th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 October 1944 - Place of
death
Near Vienna, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 3 | 40 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles P. McLeish (father)
Anna McLeish (mother)
Joseph McLeish (brother)
Mary A. McLeish (sister)
Richard McLeish (brother)
Arshie McLeish (brother)
Betty L. McLeish (sister)
Jack McLeish (brother)
Dorothy McLeish (sister)
Darlene J. McLeish (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-41225 -
Data
Type: B-24G
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the oil depot
MACR: 8971
More information
Cpl Charles A. McLeish was a baker before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 4 December 1942.Sgt George A. Godas:
"Aircraft 225 was flying in number 4 position to my right and in the rear. Immediately after leaving the bomb run the plane was hit by anti-aircraft artillery in the waist directly in back of the bomb bay. The aircraft peeled off and went into a spin and after losing altitude of about 5,000 feet, both wings fell off. Five chutes were seen to fall out and all opened."
Cpl McLeish did not have time to bail out.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Oct.44.html
Photo source: 1940 Clinton High School Old Gold and Black Yearbook - courtesy of Kathy McDermott