Schreiber, Leroy Adolph.

Schreiber, Leroy Adolph, born on 17-12-1917 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.   to  Adolph Louis Schreiber and Lillian Gertrude, born Hurle. Leroy had two sisters, Marion S Haggerty, born Schreiber and the other being Eleanor Elizabeth Evans, born Schreiber. Leroy Schreiber became a Major (Squadron Leader) in the 62^nd Fighter Squadron, 56^th Fighter Group . The 62^nd Fighter Squadron, nicknamed Spike War Dawgs”  was constituted on 20-11-1940. It was activated on 15-01-1941 as the 62^nd Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 56^th Pursuit Group at Savannah Air Base, Georgia. After Pearl Harbour , the group moved to various bases along the east coast of the United States. Part of the I (Interceptor) Fighter Command, the 56^th was tasked with defending the Atlantic Seaboard from an airborne attack. Originally equipped with P-35s, P-36s, P-39s and P-40s, the 62^nd received the Army Air Corps’ first operational P-47s  in May of 1942. After initial training and qualification in the “Thunderbolt”, the 62^nd Fighter Squadron moved to England in January 1943. One of the first P-47 squadrons in the European theatre, the 62^nd 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. Total kills for the squadron during its two years of combat were 236 in the air and 115.5 on the ground. Eight 62^nd pilots became aces, including Captain Robert S. Johnson (27 kills), Johnson died age 70, on 27-12-1998, in Tulsa. Lieutenant. Colonel David Schilling (23 kills) , Schilling died 37, on 14-08-1956 and Captain Fred J. Christensen

22 kills. As part of the 56^th Fighter Group, the squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for action during the periods of February 20^th through 09-03-1944 and 19-09-1944. Major Leroy Adolph Schreiber flew 140 missions and destroyed 17 German airplanes in air battles 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.

Death and burial ground of Schreiber, Leroy Adolph.

  At 1420 Hours on Saturday 15-04-1944, Major Schreiber 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 Adolph Schreiber’s death at age 27.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Captain (Air Corps) Leroy Adolph Schreiber (ASN: 0-401242), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 62d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 20-02-1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date as Captain Schreiber shot down three enemy aircraft in a single engagement. Captain Schreiber’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 25 (1944)

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Major Leroy Adolph Schreiber, who was married to Viginia L Martin, was one of them, having been credited with 12 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

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

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