Leo, William J.

Date of birth:: July 23rd, 1921 (New Haven/Connecticut, United States)
Date of death:: December 4th, 2002 (West Haven/Connecticut, United States)
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

William J. Leo was a tail gunner on Colonel Kane's B24D Liberator, flown in the Romania oil field bombing raid over Ploesti on 1 August 1943. For that mission he and others were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: August 1st, 1943

"For distinguished and meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in operations against the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Roumania on 1 August, 1943. These men of the 344th Bombarbadment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group who took part in one of the most spectacular, daring and destructive raids ever attempted, all contributed importantly to the succesful completion of the task. Flying in the heavily fortified target area with heavy bombardment aircraft, they bombed and strafed their objectives with enormously damaging effect. The bravery, skill, and fighting spirit these men showed under conditions of extraordinary difficulty and peril were such as to serve as a lasting exxample of valor in action."

Second DFC received in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.