Leo Claire Moon
Military
508th FS Commander
404th FG Commander
Object Number - UPL 38458 - Colonel Leo Claire Moon 508th FS Commander 404th FG Commander
From about Aug 1943 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Major Moon was Commanding Officer of the 508th Fighter Squadron. (Wikipedia: 508th Fighter Squadron)
In January 1945 he participated in the conception, design and execution of the 404th Group insignia. He assumed command of the 404th Group from 22 Nov 1944. 17 April 1945 he was shipped home to Kamiah, Idaho after nearly 130 combat missions. ("Leap Off," pp. 3, 96, 179, 221. http://www.winkton.net/pages/Leo%20Moon.htm)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Brétigny-sur-Orge
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Harrisburg, Idaho | 16 August 1918 | |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Bethune, France | 7 May 1944 | |
|
Other Combat Mission |
near Chartres, France | 10 May 1944 | Destroyed one locomotive |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Montain, France | 9 August 1944 | |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Falaise Gap, near Argentan, France | 14 August 1944 | Eight ships of the 508th, led by Major Leo Moon about midday, claimed the destruction of at least 15 tanks, three heavy anti-tank guns and five ammunition trucks. They reported the Germans in such headlong retreat their tanks were running with turrets reversed, firing on the move at American tanks a quarter of a mile behind. "Tanks were running off the main road to cover on side roads in all directions," Moon said. "And we'd blast 'em with bombs or strafing attacks as fast as we could spot them," When the squadron circled back, the American armor pursuing the Germans was passing through Putanges. The head of the column had reached half a mile north of town, apparently blocked by two burning German tanks at that point, A P-38 squadron was on its way to relieve the 508th. Moon said the low level attacks not only apparently knocked out any German attempt to slow the American armor, but completely disorganized them. Not a single burst of flak was reported. 52 "Our only damage was some bent leading edges where empty shell cases banged against the wings of the following planes. That was because we went in so close together with guns firing," Moon explained. "It was a picnic for us," said Moon. "It was the best day we've ever had. The Germans were being driven frantic. If they moved, we'd blast 'em If they stopped, our tanks would get them." |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Aachen, Germany | 8 September 1944 | TAC abruptly switched the Group north again, and Major Moon and the 508th became the first in the Group to attack targets in Germany. The 16-ship formation, with 12 planes carrying bombs, traveled in the late 67 afternoon to Aachen, and plastered the nearby marshalling yards, destroying or damaging some 40 freight cars and nine locomotives. The first close look at Germany was interesting, revealing plenty of rail-targets in the marshalling yards of the Rhineland, and factories puffing smoke and apparently in full operation at Eschweiler and Stolberg, east of Aachen. "Little Caesar" with mock bravado scoffed at the quantity of heavy and light flak fired at the formation, commenting that those "silly so-and-so's should get some more training before they waste all their ammunition." But the enemy barrage was all too effective, knocking out of the sky a young newcomer, Second Lieut. William R. Hardin. No one saw him go down, but he failed to return from the mission and never was heard from again. |
|
Enlisted |
Eschweiler, Germany | 20 October 1944 | Only one squadron mission-the first of the day-struck at Aachen October 20th. That was a 12-ship attack by Lt. Col. Moon and the 508th on a crossroads near Haaren, north of the city. Four other missions in squadron strength took off during the day, striking in sequence at Kohlscheid, a heavily defended village five miles north of Aachen; dropping leaflets over Monschau Forest, 20 miles to the southeast; beating up a railroad tunnel near Eschweiler, and a bridge and section of track just east of the town. |
|
Other appointed 404th FG Commander |
St. Truiden Airfield, Belgium | 25 November 1944 | |
|
Died |
Tarrant County, Texas | 20 January 2013 | Leo C. Moon, 94, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. Service: The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Funeral will be held on Friday, Feb. 8, in Kamiah, Idaho. Interment: Woodlands Cemetery, Kamiah, Idaho. Leo Claire Moon was born Aug. 16, 1918, in Harrisburg, Idaho, son of the late Martha Benbow and Clyde Moon. He served a distinguished career in the United States Air Force and retired in 1964. He was a gifted pilot who taught hundreds from around the world until the age of 83. A marksman, angler, mathematician and gunsmith, he was our mentor, a devoted husband and a loving father. Memories of our lives with you will remain forever in our hearts. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Dorothea O'Brien Moon; son-in-law, Beverly Nix Coiner Sr.; and grandson, Taylor Moon. Survivors: Children, Michael Moon of Fort Worth, Randall Moon and wife, Holly, of Seattle, Wash., Kathleen Moon Coiner of San Antonio, William Moon and wife, Susan, of Keller, John Moon and wife, Maria, of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Melissa Marcelloni and husband, Jacob, Ryan Moon, Beverly Nix Coiner Jr., Samantha Moon, Christopher Moon, Michael Moon; great-grandchildren, Emma and Isaiah Marcelloni. Published in Star-Telegram on January 22, 2013 |
|
Buried |
Woodland, Idaho | 23 January 2013 | Woodland Cemetery Woodland, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2345&h=1585168…
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7545&h=1946700…
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7545&h=1946700…
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/5600448/person/6913800…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103964794/leo-claire-moon
Contributor508thRadarMan
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