5 January 1941 - 71 Squadron, RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey - Hawker Hurricane 1 - V6636 - P/O Philip H Leckrone - Formation Flying Practise.
Approximate location - Scunthorpe area.
Philip Leckrone ( pictured above ) was from Salem, Illinois, the son of William and Lottie Leckrone. He was married to Mackenzie A. Leckrone and was an experienced pilot, owning his own aircraft.
He traveled to Britain in 1940 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force. Following conversion to the Spitfire at 7OTU RAF Hawarden, he joined No. 616 Squadron at RAF Kenley on 2 August 1940. He 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 at RAF Church Fenton on 12 October 1940, to join other American volunteers in the first 'Eagle' squadron. For the first month or two 71 were equipped with the Brewster Buffalo , a grossly inadequate machine for combat in the European theatre. Within a short period they received the much more capable Hawker Hurricane
Church Fenton, 28th October 1940 - Leckrone overshot the field the morning being a calm day and not quite accustomed to the manner in which the Brewster Buffalo float on landing turned the aircraft over on its back at a good speed and gave himself a crack on the head. 29 Oct 40 - he admitted to hospital with slight concussion.
On 5 January 1941, Leckrone was taking part in a formation practice flying Hawker Hurricane I V6636 when he collided with Pilot Officer Edwin Ezell Orbison, who was able to reach base and safety. Leckrone went into a tail-spin and plunged toward the ground. Pilot Officer Vernon Keogh, who was flying in formation practice at 20,000 feet with Orbison and Leckrone, followed Leckrone down, shouting at him over the radio telephone. "Balel out! Balel out!" Leckrone did not reply and made no attempt to bale out. It appears Leckrone was either knocked unconscious by the collision or unconscious when the collision occurred.. He died on impact and was the first fatality in No. 71 Squadron.
Orbison did very well to manage to land safely at base as his left wing was badly torn in the collision.
P/O Philip Howard Leckrone RAFVR – Pilot - 71 ( Eagle ) Sqn - Son of William and Lottie Leckrone, of Salem, Illinois, U.S.A.; husband of Naomi J. Leckrone, of Salem. - Kirton-in-Lindsey Cemetery, North Lincolnshire.
the 71 Squadron ORB Notes that Philip Leckrone was a grand fellow. Non drinker and non smoker. A farm boy from Salem Illinois known as Zeke to his comrades. A true gentleman who had served with 616 Squadron before joining 71 Squadron. Quiet and reserved with over 100 hours on Spitfires. His loss will certainly impress on the Squadron the care they must take when undertaking these practise flights. He joined the RAF not for any perceived glamour but to do his bit to defend and preserve our way of life.
Item courtesy of Wikipedia with photos from my own archive. Thanks also to Chris Benson for the 71 ORB info
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