Operation: Training

Date: 05th January 1941 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 71 Squadron 'Eagle' (motto: 'First from the eyries')

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: V6636

Code: XR-?

Base: RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire

Location: Over Scunthorpe

Pilot: P/O. 'Zeke' Phillip Howard Leckrone 84653 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in a formation exercise with P/O. Vernon Charles "Shorty" Keough 81620 and P/O. Edwin Ezell Orbison 84659.

P/O. Leckrone, a very experienced pilot who had flown previously with 616 squadron during the 'Battle of Britain', collided with Hurricane V6983 flown by P/O. Orbison both flying at 20,000'. P/O. Keough followed him down and shouted to him over the radio to bale out but received no reply and no attempt was made to bale out. It is thought that he may have been knocked unconscious in the collision or that through lack of oxygen.

P/O. Orbison did very well to safely land his Hurricane at the base as the aircraft's left wing was badly damaged in the collision.

Above L-R: P/O. Phillip Leckrone, P/O. Edwin Orbison and P/O. Vernon Keough

note: P/O. Orbison lost his life on the 09th of February 1941 with P/O. Keough also lost his life on the 15th of February 1941.

Burial details:

Philip Dook-bne's funeral took place with full military honours. on the 08th January. It seemed the whole station was present. Air Vice Marshall Richard Ernest Saul CB. DFC. (1) also attended and his presence was very much appreciated by the squadron. The NCOs and airmen of the squadron both sent wreaths. Five new arrivals P/O. Victor Robert Bono, P/O. Nat Marantz, P/O. William Nichols and P/O. John Keith Alexander turned up in the middle of the sad proceedings.

Above: On wing; Brian Jon Edward Lane DFC. 37859 (killed 13th December 1942), 'Flash' the Alsatian, George Cecil Unwin DSO. DFM. 46298 (died 28th June 2006), 'Rangy' the Spaniel, Francis Noel Brinsden NZ/40338 (died 1993).

Standing; Bernard James Jennings DFM. 47706 (died in 2002), Colin Hamilton MacFie 90657 PoW No: 1629 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang 616 squadron, Howard Frizelle Burton DSO. DFC and bar, 33227 (killed 03rd June 1943) Philip Howard Leckrone 84653 (killed 05th June 1941)

P/O. Phillip Howard Leckrone. Kirton-in-Lindsey Cemetery. Block A, Row 17, Grave 196. Also remembered on parents grave in East Lawn Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, Illinois, USA. Born on 27th November 1912 in Salemy, USA. Worked for the Williams Motor Company prior to service. During that time he purchased an aircraft and took flying lessons at Altamont airfield. He left the United States and went to Canada on the 22nd July 1940. Here he joined the Royal Air Force and arrived in Liverpool, England on the 11th August. Trained at No. 7 Operational Training Unit at Hawarden. Joined 616 Squadron at Kenley on the 2nd of September 1940 and was later posted to 71 Squadron at Church Fenton on the 12th of October 1940, to join other American volunteers in the first 'Eagle' squadron. The son of William M. (died 1970, age 96) and Lottie O. Leckrone (died 1968, age 86) Husband of Naomi (née Joines later Everts - died 29th October 1986, age 73) Epitaph: 'Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends - The family'. His home town airport is called Salem-Leckrone in his honour.

(1) Air Vice-Marshal Richard Ernest Saul, CB, DFC. Born in Dublin, Ireland on the 16th April 1891 had been a pilot during the First World War and a senior Royal Air Force commander during the Second World War. Retired from the RAF on the 29th of June 1944 and then served as the Chairman of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration's mission in the Balkans. On the 28th of November 1965 he was hit by a car and died on the 30th of November 1965 age 74. His name is inscribed on the Saul family memorial stone in the churchyard of St Patrick's, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, as is that of his wife Edna Claire, who passed away five years before him.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archive, Kew. Air-27-623-1. Air Museum of New Zealand.

Other sources as quoted below:

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