668th BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

2Lt. Leo J. Roman

Bombardier/Navigator,  O-2068051

Killed In Action - Mar 21, 1945

668th Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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B/N Wings        Missing Man        Purple Heart



      Born: Jan-1922, Connecticut

Entered Military Service: Date: 19-Feb-1943 At: Hartford, CT From: Hartford County, Connecticut
NARA Enlistment Record: Enlisted Serial # 31324328

Buried: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands, Plot H Row 1 Grave 26

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry     Overseas American Cemeteries
American Battle Monuments Commission Memorial, Certificate
Find-A-Grave
Fields of Honor Database


See also 2Lt Leo J. Roman Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(FOIA request fulfilled by Government Information Specialist Bryan K. Jolly, Fort Knox, KY)
 Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
 Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.



 Notes:
Pilot's Mission: Combat

Nature of Accident: Mid air collision

Cause of Accident: Pilot error, restricted visibility, and other personnel error.

Description:
Coming back over friendly territory about 25 miles northeast of St. Trond, Captain Andersen, leading the second flight of the first box, was attempting to regain his position in the first box. He slid his plane over the plane flown by Captain Rooney and chewed off its tail. The two planes collided in mid-air and fell to the ground and burned. Lt Kirk, B-N in Capt Rooney's plane, bailed out safely with only minor injuries. All the others were killed in the crash, which happened without warning. Captain Rooney was completing his 65th mission when the accident occurred. The reason for the crash is unknown. Flying with Captain Andersen were Lt W. Babbage, Lt. L.J. Roman, and S/Sgt S.L. Heitell. Captain Rooney had Capt C.C. Slaughter of the Infantry and Sgt. R.J. Kamischke flying with him.
(416th BG History 1945)

See also AAR 45-3-21-517 / MACR 15911 and Mission # 246



Photos and Documents
1930 US Census
1940 US Census
Courtesy of Henk Coenen who adopted Leo Roman's grave, via David Andrews Facebook, January 11, 2021
Headstone Inscription and Interment Record
Headstone
Courtesy Ron Wintjens, taken 4-May-2016 during The Faces of Margraten tribute
Courtesy of Henk Coenen who adopted Leo Roman's grave, via David Andrews Facebook, May 27, 2017
Rosters Of WW II Dead
WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
National World War II Memorial Registry
National World War II Memorial Registry
American Battle Monuments Commission Certificate


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources