The Clifford T. Leach crew: 711th Squadron
Back Row: | |
Clifford Leach | Pilot |
Robert I. Harwood | Co-Pilot |
Charles W. Hancock | Navigator |
William Rogers | Bombadier |
Front Row: | |
Wayne Jones | Top Turret Gunner |
James O. Burke Jr. | Right Waist Gunner |
Harry Young | Left Waist Gunner |
Ira J Weisblum | Radio Operator |
Fred G. Thompson | Tail Gunner |
Irvin E. Swain | Ball Turret Gunner |
Flights with Clifford T. Leach listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
447th Mission (Date) | Target | Plane Number | Notes |
#2 (30-Dec-43) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-37871 | |
#6 (07-Jan-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-37871 | |
#8 (14-Jan-44) | Grand Parc, France | 42-31225 | |
#10 (24-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-31156 | |
#11 (29-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-97497 | ABORT #3 engine out |
#18 (10-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-37842 | |
#22 (24-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-97497 | |
#23 (25-Feb-44) | Regensburg, Germany | 42-37842 | |
#24 (28-Feb-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | 42-97497 | |
#25 (29-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-97497 | |
#26 (03-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-31191 | Not Attack, 2 sick |
#27 (04-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-39882 | |
#28 (06-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-97497 | |
#29 (08-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-97497 | |
#32 (13-Mar-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | 42-97497 | |
#36 (20-Mar-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-37854 | |
#38 (23-Mar-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-97497 | |
#41 (28-Mar-44) | Chartres, France | 42-97497 | |
#52 (24-Apr-44) | Friedrichshafen, Germany | 42-102441 | |
#55 (27-Apr-44) | Le Culot, France | 42-107060 | |
#60 (08-May-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-102441 | |
#63 (12-May-44) | Zwickau, Germany | 42-102441 | |
#64 (13-May-44) | Osnabruck, Germany | 42-107220 | |
#75 (31-May-44) | Hamm, Germany | 42-97148 | |
#76 (02-Jun-44) | Wimereux, France | 42-107060 | |
#82 (06-Jun-44) | Caen, France | 42-102441 | |
#84 (06-Jun-44) | Argentan, France | 42-102441 | |
#87 (11-Jun-44) | Le Touquet – Merlimont Plage, France | 42-102441 | ABORT #1 Eng rough |
#90 (15-Jun-44) | Misburg, Germany | 42-97804 | |
#148 (25-Sep-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-107060 | |
#149 (26-Sep-44) | Bremen, Germany | 42-37871 | |
#150 (27-Sep-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 43-37774 | |
#151 (28-Sep-44) | Merseburg, Germany | 44-6016 | |
#152 (02-Oct-44) | Kassel, Germany | 43-38245 | CRASHED; KIA |
During assembly for Kassel 2/10/44) 43-38245 with Clifford Leach crew aboard, had a mid-air collision with 44-6460 with the William M. Wilder crew aboard; crashed Hitcham, UK; 17 men killed. Salvaged.
Clifford Leach crew aboard 43-38245
Capt Clifford Leach | Pilot | KIA |
Dave Bowen | Co-Pilot | KIA |
Don Rubin | Navigator | KIA |
William Rogers | Bombardier | KIA |
Earl Riggs | Top Turret Gunner | KIA |
Clyde Klee | Radio Operator | KIA |
Bill Haines | Ball Turret Gunner | KIA |
John Henry | Waist Gunner | KIA |
Carl Reitzel Jr. | Tail Gunner | KIA |
William M. Wilder crew aboard 44-6460
Lt. W. Wilder | Pilot | KIA |
Lt. N. Manock | Co-Pilot | KIA |
Lt. E. Mishler | Navigator | |
Lt. C. McGuire | Bombardier | KIA |
T/Sgt W. Easkins | Top Turret Gunner | KIA |
T/Sgt C. Genova | Radio Operator | KIA |
S/Sgt E. Suarez | Ball Turret Gunner | KIA |
S/Sgt T. Wiltse | Waist Gunner | KIA |
S/Sgt H. Lee | Tail Gunner | KIA |
Clifford Leach; Pilot
James O. Burke Jr.
Tuxedo Tommie named after tail gunner Fred Thompson
Ira J Weisblum; Radio Operator
James O. Burke Jr. leather bomber jacket
Clyde R. Klee; Radio Operator aboard 43-38245 in the collision, KIA
Maddingley Cemetery, United Kingdom, Clyde R Klee, 447th BG, (B-17 Radio-Operator/Waist Gunner was killed in a mid-air collision between two aircraft while departing Rattlesden Airfield on a combat mission over Germany. He was twenty-two years old and had flown over 20 combat missions.
Clifford Leach went back to England in 8/44 and was killed.
Robert Harwood returned to England as a pilot and was shot down and killed.
William Rogers returned to England and was killed.
Irvin Swain now lives in Buffalo N.Y. and is a retired police chief.
Wayne Jones now lives in Picket S.C. with his wife Essie and they have two boys and a girl.
James O. Burke Jr. named his first son Clifford Rogers Burke after Clifford Leach (pilot) and William Rogers (bombardier)
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. James O. Burke IV
- Hal Kiena
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database