Leonard | Arthur
Biography
Flying Officer Arthur Leonard was one of the crew of the Lancaster NG251 that crashed in Dölzig, near Leipzig by anti-aircraft fire by the 14th Flak Division of the German Army.
The crew consisted of:
Pilot / F/Lt. J.P. Morris 130129 RAF / Venray War Cemetery the Netherlands
Flight Engineer / Sgt. A.G. Furber 3025228 RAF / Venray War Cemetery the Netherlands
Navigator / F/O. A. Leonard 160715 RAF / Overloon War Cemetery the Netherlands
Bomb Aimer / Sgt. H.J. Bailey 1601442 RAF / Venray War Cemetery the Netherlands
Wireless Operator / Sgt. W. Roberts 2206786 RAF / Venray War Cemetery the Netherlands
Mid Upper Gunner / Sgt. G.C. Dennis 2204350 RAF / Overloon War Cemetery the Netherlands
Rear Gunner / Sgt. T.J. Hooper 2217010 RAF / Berlin War Cemetery Germany
On 6 December 1944, the aircraft took off from North Killingholme for an operation against the IG Farben Leuna chemical paint factory near Merseburg.
IG Farben was one of Nazi Germany’s largest synthetic oil and chemical plants. The factory employed 35,000-50.000 workers including about 10,000 prisoners and forced laborers.
This made the factory a prime target for the Allied bombing offensive against German oil production.
The 14th Flak Division was responsible for protecting the factory and had thousands of troops and workers working to defend it. Many bomber flights were carried out but many planes were also shot down. A great loss of Allied men.
Allied air raids contributed significantly to Germany’s defeat in World War II by depriving the country and its troops of vital resources. On 4 April 1945, production at Leuna ceased completely.
Arthur Leonard was temporarily buried at Margraten CCC-6-146 and later on reburied at Overloon War Cemetery.
Read more about the crew and their time at the 550 squadron in this side-story.
