Home > United States of America > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > Woodbine Cemetery > TSGT Warren Francis Leland

TSGT Warren Francis Leland

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Birth	:	22 Nov 1922 Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, USA
Death	:	11 Sep 1944
Burial	:	Woodbine Cemetery, Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.6463814, -71.3497849
Inscription	:	T Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, World War II
Description	:	killed on flight near Marcus Island S. Pacific, also noted on wall at Punch Bowl, Hawaii. ===== Memorial 1946, Gold Star Heroes [and] Honor Roll, pub. for St. Charles Borromeo Church, Woburn, Mass., by the Archdiocese of Boston, p. 41: Warren was born in Bethel, Vermont, on November 22, 1922. He attended schools in Woburn [Mass.] and graduated at Woburn High in 1942. While in High School he pitched on the school baseball team and later played on many local teams. Up to his entrance into the service he was employed at the Mass. Gear and Tool Co. But on... Read More	killed on flight near Marcus Island S. Pacific, also noted on wall at Punch Bowl, Hawaii. ===== Memorial 1946, Gold Star Heroes [and] Honor Roll, pub. for St. Charles Borromeo Church, Woburn, Mass., by the Archdiocese of Boston, p. 41: Warren was born in Bethel, Vermont, on November 22, 1922. He attended schools in Woburn [Mass.] and graduated at Woburn High in 1942. While in High School he pitched on the school baseball team and later played on many local teams. Up to his entrance into the service he was employed at the Mass. Gear and Tool Co. But on September 12, 1942, he left to serve his country in the Army Air Force. His basic training was attained at Tyndall Field, Florida. Then he went to Scott Field in Illinois for special training in radio. He reached the rank of T/Sgt. and was sent overseas [Asiatic-Pacific] in Dec. 1942. In September 11, 1944, he left Saipan [Marianas, approx. 1500 miles east of Manila] on an armed reconnaissance mission to the Marcus Islands [then Japanese owned, 1000 miles northeast of Saipan and 1000 miles southeast of Tokyo] and was reported missing in action on that date. His status remained the same till February 1946. [The ABMC lists his death as Sept. 13, 1944.] Warren was the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Oak-leaf clusters, an Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 4 battle stars, and the Presidential Citation. [He was also awarded the Purple Heart (posthumously), and the ABMC verified the above awards.] He is survived by his parents, Melvin A. and Grace Emery Leland, who make their present home [in] Stoneham [Mass.], but who formerly [lived in] Woburn. He also leaves behind eight brothers and two sisters. Another brother, [Allen F.], entered the Army from Lowell [Mass.] in Sept. 1943, and died in Germany on March 2, 1945. Contribution by Leon Edmund Basile ~~~~~~~~~~ Warren served as a Technical Sergeant & Radio Operator / Gunner on B-24J "Pistol Pakin Mamma" #42-72989, 38th Bomber Squadron, 30th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He resided in Middlesex County, Massachusetts prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 12, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a industry clerk and also as Single, without dependents. B-24J #42-72989 took off, with a crew of 10, from Isley Field, Saipan on a Armed Reconnaissance mission looking for Japanese shipping aroung Marcus Island, south-east of Tokyo, Japan. Not seeing any shipping they proceeded to bomb the Japanese installation on the Island. They were soon hit by ground anti-aircraft fire which caused the B-24 to start burning. Three were able to bailout before the B-24 crashed with only one survivor, 2nd Lt. Richard M. Smith who became a POW. Warren was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. Service # 11116615 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Airmen who perished on B-24J #42-72989: Brabender, Rene W ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, PA Brodziak, Philip A ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, NJ Chambers, William E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, GA Dempster, Robert A, Jr 1st Lt, Pilot, PA Leland, Warren F ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, MA McGee, Robert L ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NC Robb, John L ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY Sisko, Martin ~ T/Sgt, Radar Operator, NY Thompson, George E ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, OR 2nd Lt. Richard M. Smith (Navigator) survived and became a POW of the Japanese. It is his story that is told above about what happened to the "Pistol Pakin Mamma". ( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett ) Special thanks to: Sherry SH for submitting this record for bio updates and all the great photos at Honolulu! ~~~~~~~~~~ Another cenotaph with family links located at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Another cenotaph located at Honolulu Memorial.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is TSGT Warren Francis Leland's memorial?
TSGT Warren Francis Leland's memorial is located at: Woodbine Cemetery, Lowell, Middlesex County, USA.
When did TSGT Warren Francis Leland death?
TSGT Warren Francis Leland death on 11 Sep 1944 in
Where are the coordinates of the TSGT Warren Francis Leland's memorial?
Latitude: 42.6463814
Longitude: -71.3497849

Family Members:

Parent

Melvin Amos Leland

(1877 - 1959)

Grace Emery Leland

(1888 - 1977)

Siblings

Douglas M Leland

(1907 - 1971)

Allen Frederick “Freddie” Leland

(1911 - 1945)

Chester Arthur “Chet” Leland

(1914 - 2001)

Vernon Stanley Leland

(1926 - 2007)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Woodbine Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6463814, -71.3497849

2. Old Burying Ground
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6425629, -71.3585281

3. Mammoth Road Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6508636, -71.3333282

4. Riverside Cemetery
North Chelmsford, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6363106, -71.3704834

5. School Street Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6377640, -71.3243790

6. Hamblett Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6602300, -71.3269100

7. Ladd and Whitney Monument
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6461100, -71.3132700

8. Temple Beth El Cemetery
Chelmsford, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6193771, -71.3432541

9. Hildreth Family Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6607971, -71.3099289

10. Hildreth Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6610413, -71.3087769

11. Old English Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6253242, -71.3077469

12. Holy Trinity Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6207848, -71.3122025

13. Saint Patrick Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6217003, -71.3080978

14. Fairview Cemetery
North Chelmsford, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6316376, -71.3998032

15. New Boston Cemetery
Dracut, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6838100, -71.3309800

16. Westlawn Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6187500, -71.3103000

17. Westlawn II Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6165900, -71.3090800

18. Edson Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6186142, -71.3050461

19. Lowell Cemetery
Lowell, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6288986, -71.2936020

20. Oakland Cemetery
Dracut, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6913300, -71.3509800

21. Drake Cemetery
Tyngsborough, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6615295, -71.4075089

22. West Chelmsford Cemetery
West Chelmsford, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6176491, -71.3980865

23. Sherburne Cemetery
Tyngsborough, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6710281, -71.4039459

24. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Chelmsford, Middlesex County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6073380, -71.3127594