36th/856th BS

Leichman Crew

The Leichman crew arrived at Harrington in time to be members of the 36th BS for exactly two days prior to the reorganization of 13 August 1944. Before the cessation of Carpetbagger missions in mid-September of 1944 they flew six missions.  Barely readable on the faded orders, proper names and positions were:

William W. Leichman    -    Pilot
George W. Greenway     -    Copilot
Hugh C. Butler         -    Navigator
Bruno J. Gambucci      -    Bombardier
Henry C. Brown         -    Radio Operator
Alvon E. Luke          -    Dispatcher
Luther J. Oman         -    Engineer
Roman J. Rozmierski    -    Tail Gunner

Paul A. Newman         -    Gunner (Orphaned)

Harry E. Weir          -    Gunner (Orphaned)

Combat Period: August 1944-?

Their six missions in September of 1944, shown below, yield a five out of six success rate, very good for a beginning crew at Harrington.  All targets were French.  Clearly the plane preferred was B24H 42-50444, which had a very short lifespan at Harrington, being crashed at the A-73 Roye/Amy France airfield on 21 September 1944, probably while on a gas-haul mission.

Pilot	MR#	OK	Incomplete	Joes	Cntrs	Pkgs	Day	DZ	Aircraft
Leichman	2041	1	0	0	12	10	09	Percy 13J	B24H 42-50444 A
Leichman	2070	1	0	0	12	10	10	Glover 7	B24H 42-50444 A
Leichman	2114	1	0	0	12	10	12	Bob 267	B24H 42-50444 A
Leichman	2183	1	0	0	12	10	13	Wrestler 7	B24H 42-50444 A
Leichman	2218	1	0	0	12	7	16	Marc 19	B24H 42-50444 A
Leichman	2232	0	1	0	0	0	17	Bob 269	B24H 42-50444 A

Aircraft Information: Tom Brittan

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