Phillip Leckrone
Encyclopedia
Phillip Howard Leckrone was an American pilot who flew for the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain.
Leckrone was from Salem, Illinois
, the son of William and Lottie Leckrone. He was married to Naomi J. Leckrone. He was an experienced pilot, owning his own aircraft.
Leckrone travelled to Britain in 1940 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force
(Service Number 84653). Following conversion to the Spitfire
at 7OTU RAF Hawarden he joined No. 616 Squadron RAF
at RAF Kenley
on 2 September 1940. He was flew more than two dozen sorties over the English Channel
as a tail-end Charlie in 616 Squadron. He was later posted to No. 71 Squadron RAF
at RAF Church Fenton
on 12 October 1940, to join other American volunteers in the first 'Eagle' squadron.
On 5 January 1941 Leckrone was taking part in a formation practice when he collided with Pilot Officer Edwin Ezell Orbison. Leckrone was the Squadron's first fatality. He is buried in Kirton-in-Lindsey Burial Ground in Lincolnshire
.
Leckrone was from Salem, Illinois
Salem, Illinois
Salem is a city located in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Marion County. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.Salem is the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan and his brother vice presidential candidate Charles W. Bryan, the G. I. Bill of Rights, and Miracle Whip salad...
, the son of William and Lottie Leckrone. He was married to Naomi J. Leckrone. He was an experienced pilot, owning his own aircraft.
Leckrone travelled to Britain in 1940 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(Service Number 84653). Following conversion to the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
at 7OTU RAF Hawarden he joined No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
at RAF Kenley
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
on 2 September 1940. He was flew more than two dozen sorties over the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
as a tail-end Charlie in 616 Squadron. He was later posted to No. 71 Squadron RAF
No. 71 Squadron RAF
No. 71 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, the number has been used three times, once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron, in the second world war as an Eagle Squadron and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit based in Royal Air Force Germany.-First World...
at RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
on 12 October 1940, to join other American volunteers in the first 'Eagle' squadron.
On 5 January 1941 Leckrone was taking part in a formation practice when he collided with Pilot Officer Edwin Ezell Orbison. Leckrone was the Squadron's first fatality. He is buried in Kirton-in-Lindsey Burial Ground in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
See also
- List of Battle of Britain pilots
- Non-British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of Britain