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First Name: Leown

Last Name: Gilliland

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male



Branch: U.S. Army Air Forces (1941 - 1947)



Home of Record: Colbert County, AL
Middle Name: A.



Date of Birth:

Date of Death: 29 March 1944

MIA Date: 29 March 1944

Rank: Captain

Years Served:
Leown A. Gilliland

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Leown A. Gilliland
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 8 March 1944, Captain Leown A. Gilliland was serving as Pilot of a P-38 Lightning Fighter Airplane in the 383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force.

On that day, CPT Gilliland’s unit was in aerial combat against German forces in the European Theater of Operations when CPT Gilliland shot down 2 German aircraft. CPT Gilliland’s flying skills, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Captain Leown A. Gilliland went Missing in Action on 29 March 1944.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Award Numeral 1
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Leown A. Gilliland (0-495959), Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 383d Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 March 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date as Captain Gilliland shot down two enemy aircraft. Captain Gilliland's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 29 (1944)

Memorialization

The remains of Captain Leown A. Gilliland have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56290046



Honoree ID: 56949   Created by: MHOH

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