Sykes Leroy Francis

Name:

Leroy Francis Sykes

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

33189346

Unit:

366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1968-01-08

State:

District of Columbia

Cemetery:

Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland

Plot:

N

Row:

0

Grave:

2011

Decoration:

Comments:

Leroy Francis Sykes was born on April 10, 1912, in Washington, D. C. He was the husband of Hazel Eloise Pierce Sykes.

Leroy served in the 366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner on the B-17 #42-5220 during World War II.

On April 16, 1943, his crew took off from Station 105 in Chelveston, England, on a bombing mission in Lorient, France. Under an unknown circumstance, their plane crashed at Kergunne in the commune of Languidic. Five crew members were killed in this incident, while the others were able to survive but were taken as prisoners. SSgt Sykes was one of the survivors. He was taken tro Stalag Luft 17B near Krems, Austria.

Leroy died on January 8, 1968, at the age of 55. He is now buried in the Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net