Sig Liebfeld

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-25687.jpeg UPL 25687 Lt. Sig Liebfeld from St. Paul, Minnesota. He and two of his brothers died in WWII. He was a Jewish American hero. He earned the Silver Star.

From David Mercado Collection

Object Number - UPL 25687 - Lt. Sig Liebfeld from St. Paul, Minnesota. He and two of his brothers died in WWII. He was a Jewish American hero. He earned the Silver Star.

Killed in Action (KIA) Had mechanical failure and ditched in channel in B-24 #42-51218

Connections

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Units served with

A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lambsy Divey
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Last Mission

English 'Wash' 21 July 1944 SIG LIEBFELD’S HEROISM (as told by Morris Counts) I was the nose gunner and assistant flight engineer on 1st Lt. Liebfeld’s crew and this is what I remember about the mission: Over southern Germany the plane was hit by flak before we reached the target [Stuttgart]. We lost two engines instantly and the third was lost a short time later. The exploding shells also injured our radio operator, Peter Perhach. Tail gunner Robert Schroeder was also injured when he was blown completely out of the tail turret. While maintaining control of our damaged aircraft, 1st Lt. Liebfeld raised our morale by chiding Sgt. Schroeder: “Bob, what are you doing back there? Don’t worry, we’ll cover for you, and you will be a hero yet!” With only one good engine, leaking fuel and damaged flight controls, 1st Lt. Liebfeld knew we could not stay up with the formation headed to the primary target, so he ordered the Bombardier to drop on a target of opportunity. Our Bombardier, Frank Mercado, was able to locate a bridge on which to drop our bomb load. During this time I was busy shut- ting off and re-routing leaking fuel lines. After dropping our bomb load and turning for home I had started feeling a little better about our situation. Then the Pilot reported that the bomb bay doors would not close. Chester Carr, our Flight Engineer, and I looked into the bomb bay and saw that one bomb had not released. One end was hanging down because one of the two attachments had not released. Working in coordination, we were able to release the bomb from the rack. Chester used his back to lift the bomb just enough so that I could remove the stuck retaining pin. Along the way home we threw out everything we could to lighten the plane in an effort to preserve altitude and fuel. Somehow 1st Lt. Liebfeld and Co-Pilot John Guion were able to keep our battered B-24 in the air and on course for England while our little friends the P-51s and P-47s provided protection from enemy fighters. At some point the pilots knew that at the rate the plane was losing altitude it would be impossible to reach our base. The best we could do would be to reach the English coast. [By the time] the plane reached the English coast we had lost a lot of altitude. We were running out of time and options and we all knew it, but 1st Lt. Liebfeld made some quick decisions. He contacted the RAF and Air Sea Rescue to inform them that he was taking the plane over the coast just far enough to allow the crew to bail out. Then he would take the plane back over the Channel before bailing out so the plane would crash in the water, preventing possible civilian casualties on the ground. At the pilot’s signal we bailed out. I came down in a hops field, my parachute in front, dragging me over the wires supporting the hops. When I finally got stopped by the wires my feet were about six inches off the ground. By the time I got out of my parachute harness and got my feet on the ground I could see British civilians with shotguns moving towards me. At first they were not sure if I was an enemy or an ally. I assured them that I was an American Airman stationed at Metfield. They called the police, who took me to an RAF base, where I was reunited with one of my crewmates. We were there a few days while the RAF checked out our identities and processed the paper work required to return us to Metfield. The RAF treated us well. I enjoyed the good meals that the British Service Women prepared, knowing that soon I would be back eating in the “Mess” hall in Metfield. Official Summary: 491st Aircraft Lost 4—In the final loss of the day nine men abandoned B-24 (42-51218) over the coast of England. Pilot 1st Lt. Sig Liebfeld had brought a badly battered B-24 and his injured crew a long way out of Southern Germany in an attempt to get home. He alone did not survive—he drowned in the English Channel approximately 200 yards from safety. RAF pilots reported that he brought the plane in across the coast to allow the crew to bail out. He then turned 180 degrees to allow the stricken B-24 to dive into the Channel to avoid casualties on the ground. By then he had lost altitude and didn’t have time for his chute to fully open. Prior to this mission, 1st Lt. Liebfeld had said, “You fellows stay with me, I’ll always get you home!” It was hard accepting the fact that he alone had not survived. 1st Lt. Liebfeld was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. The rest of the crew [were] awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Died

Bailed out/Drowned

English Channel 21 July 1944 - 21 July 1944 In the final loss of the day, ten men abandoned 42-51218 over the coast of England. Pilot 1st. Lt. Sig Liebfeld had brought a badly battered B-24 and his crew a long way in an attempt to get home. He alone did not survive; he drowned in the channel, 200 yards from safety, and was awarded a Silver Star posthumously.

Buried

St Paul, MN, USA Chesed Shel Emes Cemetery Saint Paul Ramsey County Minnesota, USA

Revisions

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Contributordmercado55
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Photo from David Mercado Collection

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PRAIRIE PERSPECTIVES
Our Jewish Veterans Remember World War II
by Judy Brier and Linda Mack Schloff

Upper Midwest Jewish History
The journal of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest

http://www.jhsum.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/WWII-Journal.pdf

P.75

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Contributordmercado55
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David Mercado

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David Mercado

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7257 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Sig Liebfeld: Gallery (7 items)