Leroy Schreiber's medals and badges

Leroy A. Schreiber was born on December 17, 1917 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He had one sister, Marion S. Schreiber Haggerty. Leroy Schreiber became a Major (Squadron Leader) in the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.

The 62nd Fighter Squadron was constituted on November 20, 1940. It was activated on January 15, 1941 as the 62nd Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 56th Pursuit Group at Savannah Air Base, Georgia. After Pearl Harbor, the group moved to various bases along the east coast of the United States. Part of the I (Interceptor) Fighter Command, the 56th was tasked with defending the Atlantic Seaboard from an airborne attack. Originally equipped with P-35s, P-36s, P-39s and P-40s, the 62nd received the Army Air Corps’ first operational P-47s in May of 1942.

After initial training and qualification in the "Thunderbolt", the 62nd Fighter Squadron moved to England in January 1943. One of the first P-47 squadrons in the European theater, the 62nd Fighter Squadron saw plenty of action. Its wartime roles included bomber escort, counter-air and interdiction missions. The squadron took part in various operations including the Air Offensive Europe and the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central European campaigns.


56th Fighter Group 62nd Squadron Thunderbolts in Formation

At 1420 Hours on Saturday April 15, 1944, Major Leroy A. Schreiber (P-47 #43 - 25577) attacked an airfield 3 miles south of Flensburg (North Germany). At Buschau, about 1 mile from Eggebek and 7 miles from Flensburg, other US Fighter Pilots saw smoke coming out of Major Schreiber’s plane after a dive. They expected Major Schreiber to be hit by FLAK (anti-aircraft guns). After a wile the airplane rolled over on his back and took a dive.....the plane crashed and started burning when it hit the ground.....resulting in Major Leroy A. Schreiber’s death at age 27.


Major Leroy A. Schreiber

Total kills for the squadron during its two years of combat were 236 in the air and 115.5 on the ground. Eight 62nd pilots became aces, including Captain Robert S. Johnson (27 kills), Lt. Col. David Schilling (23 kills), and Captain Fred J. Christensen, Jr. (22 kills). As part of the 56th Fighter Group, the squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for action during the periods of February 20th through March 9th, 1944 and September 19th, 1944.

Major Leroy A. Schreiber flew 140 missions and destroyed 17 German airplanes in airbattles and 2 on the ground. For his actions he received a Distinguished Service Cross, a Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and an Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Major Leroy A. Schreiber 's final resting place is, together with 5.329 brothers in arms, the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium, Plot C Row 1 Grave 45.


Major Leroy A. Schreiber's grave

The adoptant of Major Leroy A. Schreiber's grave, Jasper van Haren, is searching for more information about Leroy A. Schreiber. Every kind of information is more than welcome. You can contact Jasper van Haren at: jappieyo@hotmail.com

For more stories of soldiers adopted by mr. Jasper van Haren:
Captain Darrell R. Lindsey

Source:
Jasper van Haren
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/62fs.htm