Leon E MacDonald
Military
Object Number - UPL 40829 -
On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. Four men were made prisoner. Radio Operator Conner Brewster was killed when his parachute didn't open. Leon MacDonald and two other crew members managed to evade with the help of the Belgian Comète evasion network. MACR 15553. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 256. See MacDonald's page at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fmacdonle.html
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34201968
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36507324
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11045517
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 5 November 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
22 September 1914 | South Waverley, Bradford County, Pennsylvania | |
|
Other Bailed out over Belgium |
5 November 1943 | from B-17 42-30088, after Pilot William Flesh gave the order. Flesh and his Co-Pilot John Gossage brought the plane back to England. MacDonald was one of the 3 evaders. Radio Operator Conner Brewster's parachute didn't open and was killed. The 4 others were captured and made Prisoners of War (POW) | |
|
Other Evaded capture |
5 November 1943 - 9 December 1943 | Helped by Belgian citizens and Résistance members after landing in parachute near Reppel, Limburg Province, Belgium. Taken in charge by the Belgian evasion network "Comète", he was led to Brussels, Paris, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and crossed into Spain with fellow crew member George Gineikis on 27 November 1943. Guided to Gibraltar, the two men were flown back to England, where they landed at Portreath on 10 December 1943. | |
|
Died |
8 July 1987 | Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania | |
|
Born |
Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania | ||
|
Buried |
Leon MacDonald rests at the Wysox Cemetery, Wysox, Bradford County, Pennsylvania |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
MACR 15553
VA Gravesite Locator
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 256
Research for his page at
http://www.evasioncomete.org/fmacdonle.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2
