Bernard Elmer Leimbach
MilitaryFor his skill and his sacrifice on the Ploesti Mission, Lt. Leimbach was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart medals.
Removed associations not depicted in the image. Associations to be made in the GROUPS record.
First Lieutenant Bernard "Bernie" Elmer Leimbach flew on the mission to Ploesti, Romania, and served as the Navigator on the B-24D Liberator bomber, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', SN #42-40364 Y. He was Killed in Action (KIA) on the Ploesti Raid when his B-24D was shot down by German fighter planes near the Bulgarian/Yugoslavian border close to where the B-24D, 'The Witch', made a forced landing after also having been shot up by fighters in the same area. August 1, 1943.
Lt. Leimbach served in combat with the 98th Bomb Group, 343rd Bomb Squadron and flew thirty three missions in the area of responsibility. Thirty one of those missions were flown with Capt. James A. Gunn Jr. at the helm. His first mission was on 24 Feb 1943 and his last was the 1 Aug 1943 Ploesti raid. He was never assigned to the 389th Bomb Group as noted in so many books, which are in error. His movement orders for an overseas destination, dated January 27, 1943 for Crew 67-19, lists him as primary navigator with Capt. Gunn from the beginning.
Awards: DFC (1OLC), PH, AM (4OLC), ACM, EAME Campaign Medal (2 bronze service stars)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11037168 / O-791098
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 16 October 1921 | There is one document from the family that states he was born in 1922, but the government states he was born in 1921, so seeking accuracy on birth date. |
Enlisted |
28 January 1942 | Enlisted as Aviation Cadet in Cleveland, Ohio. | |
Died |
Macedonia (FYROM) | 1 August 1943 | |
Buried |
12 July 1949 | Grave 107, Section 15 |
Revisions
Official correspondence for Lt. Leimbach from his date of entry until last government correspondence to his family in 1952.
Letters, capitals, punctuation for clarity and accuracy. - Kickapoo
Capt James A. Gunn, Jr. was aircraft commander of B-24 #42-40364 Y during the 1 August 1943 Ploesti mission.
NARA file verified entry date and place of enlistment. Personal records verified birth date.
Lt Leimbach flew from 23 Feb 1943 to 1 August 1943 in the EAME Campaign under Air Combat and Sicily Campaigns.
Lt. Leimbach received these awards as a result of his service from 26 September 1942 until his death on 1 Aug 1943.
Re-checked MACR 165: https://www.fold3.com/image/1/29417957
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49246458/bernard-e-leimbach
Correspondence with Randolph J Wells CMSgt USAF
"Is there any way the data could be changed on the American Air Museum in Britain to reflect the Capt. James A. Gunn, Jr. crew was only part of the 98th Bomb Group? I have specific movement orders which has this crew traveling from the US to Benina Main, Libya (now Benina International Airport) to solely serve with the 98th BG. They were never in England, hence couldn't be detached from the 389th BG. I have a ton of documents from Bernard E. Leimbach's family and he was the Navigator on Capt Gunn's crew."
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 165