Birth Date: 1920-November-11
Born: Osaquan, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada
Parents: Son of Charles Frederick Leach and Hilda Annie (nee Weston) Leach, of Dryden, Ontario
Spouse:
Home: Dryden, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: 1940-October-23
Service
RCAF
Unit
61 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Per Purum Tonantes Thundering through the clear air
Base
RAF Syerston
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/7227
Dryden, Ontario
Kiel Germany
Pilot Officer Leach had volunteered to fly on this operation, replacing the regular navigator with this crew, who was ill. Sadly, he was killed in the crash and later buried in a cemetery near where an uncle, his mother's brother, lived in Sussex, England
Pilot Officer Leach had previously been employed by the Royal Bank of Canada from February 20, 1939 in his hometown of Dryden, Ontario, from where he enlisted in the RCAF, October 23, 1940
61 Squadron (Per Puram Tunantes) RAF Syerston. Returning over England from an operation against targets in Kiel, Germany, the flak-damaged Lancaster BI aircraft W 4233 became lost in poor weather conditions. While trying to determine it's position, the Lancaster crashed into high ground fifteen miles north-east of Thirsk, at Bilsdale, East Moor, Yorkshire
Navigator, Pilot Officer L C R Leach (RCAF) and Bomb Aimer, Sergeant R Court (RAFVR) were killed in action. The Pilot, Flight Sergeant H E Game (RAF) was severely injured and died of his injuries in hospital 1942-10-15
The rest of the crew, Flight Engineer, Sergeant H Scattergood (RAF), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Sergeant L S J Hamblett (RAF), Mid-Upper Air Gunner, Sergeant E C Hawkins (RAF), and Rear Air Gunner, Sergeant E T Lund (RAFVR) all survived the crash with injuries
Sergeant Lund is believed to have walked to a farm house to get help despite having suffered two broken ankles in the crash
61 Squadron (Per Puram Tunantes) RAF Syerston. Returning over England from an operation against targets in Kiel, Germany, the flak-damaged Lancaster BI aircraft W 4233 became lost in poor weather conditions. While trying to determine it's position, the Lancaster crashed into high ground fifteen miles north-east of Thirsk, at Bilsdale, East Moor, Yorkshire
Navigator, Pilot Officer L C R Leach (RCAF) and Bomb Aimer, Sergeant R Court (RAFVR) were killed in action. The Pilot, Flight Sergeant H E Game (RAF) was severely injured and died of his injuries in hospital 1942-10-15
The rest of the crew, Flight Engineer, Sergeant H Scattergood (RAF), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Sergeant L S J Hamblett (RAF), Mid-Upper Air Gunner, Sergeant E C Hawkins (RAF), and Rear Air Gunner, Sergeant E T Lund (RAFVR) all survived the crash with injuries
Sergeant Lund is believed to have walked to a farm house to get help despite having suffered two broken ankles in the crash
Enlisted Staff - RBC
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)
