O’LEARY, Leo Frederick

NAME                    O’LEARY          Leo Frederick
RANK                     Warrant Officer 1st       90360
                               RCAF Group 6 Bomber Command  -  No. 62 Base 
SQUADRON          RCAF No. 429 “Bison”
                               “nothing to chance”
                               RAF East Moor Airfield in Yorkshire
                               Squadron Markings AL                                                                                                          Born                        January 11, 1916 - Seaforth - Township of Tuckersmith - County of Huron                              Residence              Exeter - Ontario                                                                                                                            Died                        June 25, 1943          27 years  5 months
Cemetery               Heverlee War Cemetery - Leuven - Belgium
                               2 F 4
Wife                       Mrs. Margaret (O’Leary) Dywan - Seaforth
Parents                  Mr. Alleno and Marg O’Leary - Seaforth

Leo was born in Tuckersmith Township on Lot 5 of Concession 1 on January 11, 1916. As he grew up in Seaforth he enjoyed swimming, softball and skating. As he grew up he had the measles, mumps and an appendectomy. He would have attended St. James Catholic Church. He attended Seaforth Public School 1922-29 and Seaforth Collegiate 1929-35. Prior to his enlistment he was employed at Canadian Canners as a Stenographer and Bookeeper.

Canada

Leo enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force on March 3, 1941 in London - Ontario and received the rank of Aircraftsman 2. At this time he stood 5' 8" and weighed 152 pounds. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was assigned to the London Recruitment Centre for a period of eighteen days be fore being posted to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto on April 22. He was then sent to RCAF Trenton on May 5 to perhaps No. 1 Composite Training School. On June 10 it was to Quebec to No. 3 Initial Training School in Victoriaville where he achieved a 78% average and placed 56 in a class of 143. Here he received the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. His next training in the middle of July sent him to No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School in Oshawa - Ontario where he had a 65% in Flying Training and a 68% average in Ground Training. Now it was back to Quebec on September 14 to St Hubert to No. 13 Service Flying Training School. He was awarded the rank of Sergeant and received his Pilot Badge while here. This completed his training in Canada and he was Posted to "Y" Depot in Halifax in preparation for going overseas.  

Overseas

On January 23, 1942 he volunteered for the RAF Training Pool and then the following day embarked from the shores of Canada for overseas and then disembarked in the United Kingdom on February 1. The next day in Bournemouth - Dorset he reported to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. Between March 8-16 he was assigned to Blackpool for further training. Then on March 19 he was discharged to Headquarters M/E Pool and Struck off Service to the Overseas draft. He then received the rank of Flight Sergeant. On July 2 he is assigned to No. 21 Primary Training Centre. Then it is off to No. 22 Primary Training Centre on August 15. On August 30 he is posted with 252 Wing which is in Egypt for a short period. He embarks from the Middle East on September 14 before going back to No. 22 Primary Training Centre on September 17. On October 14 he goes to No. 2 PDC Supply HE. Here he was awarded the rank of Warrant Officer 2. Then a week before the year comes to a close he reports to No. 19 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit where he has a 60% average. He also ewceived the rank of Warrant Officer 1.                                                     On February 28, 1943 he is attached to No. 1514 BAF where he achieves 60%. On March 9 he is posted to    No. 22 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Wellesbourne Mountford and here he achieves a 65% Average. O

In the Field

On May 29 he arrives at RCAF Squadron 429 based at RAF East Moor.                                                          Wellington HZ 521 “X” lifted off the tarmac at 11:06 pm of June 24th was shot down 6 miles southeast of Louvain at Le Culot and it crashed at Hamme-Mille at 2:58 am on June 25. Warrant Officer 1st / Pilot O’Leary was flying this aircraft. The target on this mission was Wuppertal and the bombload was 1-4,000 lb. bomb. This mission caused a firestorm. The target was the Goldschmitt adhesives factory which made the glue for the        Ta 154 Focke Wolf night fighter and the Heinkel 162 jet fighter. Fourteen aircraft had been assigned for this mission.
The Luftwaffe pilot was  Lt. Oberleutant Heinz Schnaufer of Stab II/ NJG 1. He was flying a Bf110 from St Trol air field.

His wife and mother both received the Memorial Cross in November of 1944 and in August 1846 his widow received the medals awarded to he husband which included the 1839-45 Star, the Aircrew Star, the Defence and War Medals and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

He is honoured and remembered on the Seaforth Cenotaph and on the Memorial Plaque of Seaforth Collegiate and on the Memorial Plaque of his church. He is honoured and remembered in the Books of Remembrance shown in the Centre Block of Parliament in Ottawa and on the RCAF Bomber Command Memorial. He is honoured and remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.