MACR PILOT: 2Lt Marvin L. Leininger O-145913
MACR #: 02020
Fiche #: 00670
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 349th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: East
Intended Destination: Ludwigshaven
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 10/10 Undercast
Give
Date: December 30, 1943
Time: 13:42
Location: 49 05N - 04 38E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 41-42833
B: 43-57279
C: 43-63831
D: 41-24853
Weapons
A: 372108
B: 371978
C: 421714
D: 372526
E: 372039
F: 372073
G: 371653
H: 372001
I: 371711
J: 371739
L: 371459
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 10
Pass: 0
Total: 10
Personnel
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| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Marvin L. Leininger | 2Lt | O-145913 |
| CP | Albert W. Witmyer | 2Lt | O-687102 |
| NAV (N) | Leonard D. McChesney | 2Lt | O-685667 |
| BOM (B) | Charles W. Compton | 2Lt | O-673779 |
| RAD | Marshall Banta | Sgt | 35671019 |
| ENG | Meyer M. Weintraub | Sgt | 12142759 |
| BAL | Nicholas J. Matulik | Sgt | 15323730 |
| WG (W) | Eugene F. Latimer | Sgt | 19127496 |
| WG (W) | James W. Parham | Sgt | 34038658 |
| TG (T) | Charles J. McGrogan | Sgt | 13107080 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| John J. Strang | Last sighted | SSgt | 33293484 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| One B-17 from high Squadron fell behind and 3 FW 190's followed B-17, which went down in flames. (S/Sgt Strang) | ||
| No Data | LUDWIGSHAVEN MISSION, DECEMBER 30, 1943: Lt Leininger in A/C #861 was hit by flak at 12:35 hours and dropped out of formation. At various times on the route from the target both #3 and #4 engines were feathered and started again. At one time the aircraft was able to regain its position in the formation, but in some reshuffling of the formation, it dropped behind just as some enemy fighters attacked at 13:42 hours. It was hit by three enemy aircraft from 9 O'clock low. It appeared that at least one of the three fighters fired a rocket into the ship at close range. The entire left wing caught fire and part of the tail section broke off. Diving towards the undercast it was followed by several enemy fighters. It appeared under control when last seen. From 1-4 chutes were reported before the plane disappeared into the undercast near 4905 N -0438 E. (from Bill Thompson's Reports) mpf 2001 Report in MACR indicates McChesney and Compton were successful evadees and arrived back in the United Kingdom 17 Apr 1944. The eight dead, except for Sgts Parham and Matulik, now rest in the Epinal American Cemetery; this from Charles Compton in 1988. (pw) |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: January 3, 1944
