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| 2nd Lt. Walter Leu was the bombardier on the B-29 Southern Belle, 497th Bombardment Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107830242 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/292734044502942244/ |
Werner S. Leu never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 7, 1917 in Wisconsin. His parents Sam and Lena were both born in Switzerland and immigrated to America in 1896. His father worked as a farmer. Werner had four older brothers, five older sisters, and one younger sister. Werner completed four years of high school and worked in a warehouse prior to joining the army.
He enlisted in the army on January 24, 1941. The future of his life changed on his 24th birthday with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At some point he joined the Army Air Forces and trained to be a bombardier. He became a second lieutenant in the 871st Bombardment Squadron, 497th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-29 Superfortresses. The 497th BG operated out of Saipan.
On July 19, 1945 the mission for the 871st Bomb Squad was Hitachi. Lt. Leu's plane, named Southern Belle, ditched into the ocean shortly after takeoff. Five airmen returned to duty, one died of wounds and the other five, including Lt. Leu were killed in the crash.
His grave is at Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington, Wisconsin.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100
My father was the bombardier with the Mitchell crew. He flew a mission on the T-35, Southern Belle August 7, 1945. Here is an excerpt from the 500th bomb group records, 500thbombgroupb29.org victory journal. "7 Aug 45
ReplyDeleteOn this date the 20th Air Force sent 131 bombers from four of its Wings, including the 73rd, to bomb the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, southeast of Nagoya, in a precision daylight attack. The 500th Bomb Group scheduled 11 aircraft plus one Super Dumbo comms and rescue plane for this mission. The Super Dumbo was T-35,
borrowed from the 498th Bomb Group, and it was flown by the Mitchell crew" I looked up T-35 at B29.org and found the following listing "T35 42-63478 Southern Belle survived the war" Everything in quotes was copied directly from the internet page. If you wish to contact me jryan7jr@att.net Could there have been two southern belles?
My Dad flew the original Southern Bell, his name was Walter J. Sherrell. My Dad had to pay 3 bottles of whisky to have a ground crew paint the Bell on this plane. He flew it until they had to take the nose art off and replace it with the infamous "Arrow". The original Southern Bell was flown for a long time and finally, according to AAF records, dismantled for scrap at Victorville, CA airport. Dad never ditched his Southern Bell that I know of. So it would be good to pin down exactly which aircraft that 2nd Lt. Walter Leu gave his life up for his country and service as bombardier. All of our servicemen that gave their all for their country deserve to be honored richly.
ReplyDeleteRobert Sherrell
619-890-0130
Washington State.
The reason for the Southern Bell on his aircraft above, was that his B-29 was built in the "South" at the "Bell" plant. Thus the Southern Bell. I would help research the real aircraft that Lt. Leu was bombardier on if you wish. So many heroic airmen lost their lives overseas during WWII. We owe so much to them.
ReplyDelete