Leonard Janney

Son of Mr. & Mrs. Harold Janney who resided in San Jose, California.

Leonard served as a Staff Sergeant, 862nd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Cook County, Illinois prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on July 29, 1942 at Fort Myer, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of chemical products and also as Single, without dependents.

Leonard was a Passenger on B-17G #42-32087.

B-17G #42-32087 was on the way back to the United States with it's crew and also some passengers near the war's ending from Europe.

Typically when a B-17 was returning to the United States, when no longer needed for the war effort, they took members of their ground crew back with them. That is possibly what was happening on this flight.

They had just stopped at the Azores for refueling, and shortly after takeoff, the plane caught fire. The last radio contact reported that #3 engine had cut out, and, after trying to return, the plane was losing altitude. The B-17 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Leonard was declared "Missing In Action" on this flight during the war.

Service # 33193782
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56350060/leonard-h-janney

August 21, 1914 – July 5, 1945