[R Leonard]

From the 371 FG history as quoted in and extracted from the USMA death notice for JW Leonard ('42) as written by his father, COL CF Leonard, Inf (Ret)

"The first week in January, 1945 saw the 405th victor in air battles, but at the greatest cost in pilots in their history. On January 2nd, after bombing and strafing tunnels, locomotives, railroads and cars in the area of Waldfischbach, Major Leonard led his flight of 12 planes on armed reconnaissance a few miles north west of Neustadt. Blue flight called out 'Bandits' at 15,000 feet, and the entire squadron turned and headed for them. They proved to be M.E. 109's and F.W. 190's and our men tore into them. By the time they turned tail, we had destroyed three 109's, one each by Captain Evans, Lt. Williams and Lt. Meyer, and damaged two, but Lts. Holm and Martin were reported M.I.A. at the close of the battle.

"On January 5th, Major Leonard, Commanding Officer of the 405th, fell victim to enemy action in a dog fight near Worms. It was our 12 planes against 27, but we destroyed three and damaged two. Major Leonard's ship was seen to crash, but not before he had accounted for one F.W. 190 and shared yet another with Lt. McGonigle. F./O. Robert Marks, the Major's wing man was also hit, but later was reported as a prisoner of war. In addition to these, 2nd Lts. William Schleppegrell and Robert W. Gamble, both of the 405th, failed to return from missions that week and were listed as M.I.A."

In the same notice, F/O Marks is quoted from a letter he wrote to COL Leonard:

"On our mission that day, January 5th we were on a fighter sweep carrying no bombs. We were led by your son John Leonard and intercepted approximately forty German fighter planes (F.W. 190's and M.E. 109's). They were at about 20,000 feet and off to our right. We were at 16,000. The formation of German planes was called out and your son John told us 'get ready' and turned into the enemy head on, which was the American method in such case. Immediately we were mixing with them. At that time I was hit badly and spun down to 1,000 feet before recovering. Then when I proceeded home alone I could hear over the phone, the voices of the men in my squadron. About one minute later I heard a voice call out 'I've gotten two of them' and then 'I'm hit and going home'. This voice, Colonel, was that of your son as he and I were the only two who were shot down on the mission. I bailed out then before hearing our squadron commander mention that he would have to jump."

Leonard's promotion to LTC was confirmed on 5 Jan 45, he was 24 years old.

Rich