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Personal info

Full name
RANDEL, Leonard Egbert
Date of birth
18 February 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Ida, Cleburne County, Arkansas
Hometown
Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas

Military service

Service number
O-760204
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
401st Fighter Squadron,
370th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 November 1944
Place of death
1,2 km east of Arloff, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 10 24

Immediate family

Members
William R. Randel (father)
Daphne J. (Davis) Randel (mother)
George M. Randel (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-24663
Data
Type: P-38L
Mission: Bomber Escort
MACR: 10525

More information

Statement of 2nd Lt Claron R Nelson, who flew in the same misson: "4 ship flight Lt. Randel leading escorting No. 2 man home. Was hit by flak on Rhine River. Lt. Randel was hit on first burst in right engine and right wing. The flight seperated in flak evasion. Lt Randel and 2nd Lt Nelson dropped from 22000 to aproximately 15000 where he feathered right engine and popped canopy. Lt Randel asked me three times if he was on fire. I answered no each time. He said "I'll have to get out here". I replied "Go ahead and bale ou if you want to, but you are not on fire-just coolant and gas fumes coming out". He rolled the ship over then at aproximately 12000 feet and about 10 miles southwest of Euskirchen the ship went into a normal spin and crashed ( exploded). As far as I could see Lt Randel never left the ship, but there is a chance for I was looking into a white cloud back-ground wich made visibility very poor".

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, www.ancestry.com - Headstone Inscription and Interment Record ‏- Family Trees

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Rik Verhelle, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 43-K Williams Fd Arizona