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Friends
This album of Col Leber is a incredible!
It was a tragedy that he was cut down in the prime of life by Polio and I second Huskinhano comment that Scott did his grandfather well.
What is interesting is that Col. Leber war time assignments parallels that of Antisubmarine Command, which take up several chapters of Air Force history to explain how and why the Air Force got in the antisubmarine business and how it got out it, which I will not go into here.
As for some of the cashes in the album this is what Aviation Archaeology Data Base says (by date):
11 Nov. 1941, A-20A is serial no. 40-98 of the 79th BS(L) / 45BG (L) Crashed due to Engine Failure, at Spartanburg Muni Airport, SC, pilot; Van Sickle, Neil D.
This might be the squadron Col. Laber says he commands at Grenier Field, Manchester, Mass. in his resume. By the date it looks like his Group is in the last week or so of the pre-war Caroline Maneuvers which 1st Air Support Command took part. By the end of January 1942 the 45th BG (L) is assigned to 1st Bomber Command and is flying patrols looking for U-boats.
20 Oct. 1942, B-34, AJ342 Home base: Galveston AAF, TX, Pilot: Chesser, R L, Location: Galveston Road 2 Mi SW, TX.
The 443rd BS(M) of the 45th BG (M) is station at Galveston for patrols out into the Gulf at this time. The other squadrons of the 45th BG are at Jacksonville and Miami FL. Col. Laber may be the C.O. of this squadron. Note that the other B-34 shown in his album has “Yagi” radar antennas.
10 Nov. 1942, AT-6A serial no. 41-16259, from Ellington Field, TX, Pilot; Heyer, Walter L, Location; Galveston Arpt, TX
We all know what happen here.
25 Jan 1943, O-47A serial no. 38-322, home field New Orleans AAB, LA , Pilot: Watson, Harold E. Crash 8 Mi NW NOAAB, Lake Pontchartrn, LA,
Well Lake Pontchartrn is not Hawaii and it looks like they just towed it to shore on its landing gear! Note it has the O.D. and white “Sea-Search” camouflage. The assigned units of Antisubmarine Command are now redestinated Antisubmarine Squadrons.
May 1943, B-24D serial no.42-40173, Home field: Apo 632 Miami, pilot: Herman, Lawrence A. Cash at Morrison Field, FL
Col. Leber says he is in Miami with 26th Antisubmarine Wing at this time and Antisubmarine Command is reequipping with B-24s but this ship just has the O.D and Gray camouflage and maybe is not assigned to Antisubmarine Command.
By the end July 1943 the Navy was taking over the antisubmarine mission with its own B-24s and the Antisubmarine Command was once again redesignated I Bomber Command and its units were redesignated Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) and ship off to Europe as was Col. Leber.
Tom
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