Cause of Death: |
Killed in action, North American F-51 Mustang #362. Capt Leathers, with 2Lt J. N. Lellyet as his No.2, was leading four aircraft on a training flight, a simulated interdiction strike on a rail bridge over a river. They arrived over the designated area at 10500 feet, and commenced their attacks in echelon port formation. Shortly after pulling out of his dive at 3000 feet, Capt Leathers looked back and saw an explosion short of the target and a half mile to starboard. The No.3 then reported over the radio that "No.2 has gone in.". No.3 and No.4 aircraft proceeded to orbit the crash site while Capt Leathers flew back to K-10 to report the accident, as he was unable to radio them. Lt Lellyet's body was recovered. |
