DOB/DOD: September 6, 1921 (Ontario, Canada) – May 20, 1945; 24 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Jean Wiswall Leavitt Aatila (1921-2011)
CHILDREN: Two daughters, Linda Leavitt Smith (1941-) and Gail Leavitt Atkinson (1942-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 7 Woodside Avenue, East Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: May 5, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 31333954
UNIT: 100th General Hospital
FAMILY: Born to Herbert W. (1886-1956) and Laura A. Palmer Leavitt (1890-1984). Four sisters, Marion I. Leavitt Cook (1910-1990), Avis R. Leavitt Chaney (1914-1987), Edith G. Leavitt Girouard (1919-1981), and Lillian Leavitt Doulens (1927-present). Three brothers, Cleveland W. (1909-1990), Lloyd C. (1916-1985), and Lawrence E. (1934-2023).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Killed in a plane crash in France
DATE: May 20, 1945 (After the war ended in Europe; V-E Day was May 8, 1945)
AIRCRAFT: A-20B, tail number 41-3365
CREW MEMBERS: 2d Lt Frank W. Graning (pilot); SSgt Ernest S. Galpin; Tec5 Herbert O. Leavitt. Both SSgt Galpin and Tec5 Leavitt were assigned to the 100th General Hospital.
UNIT OF ASSIGNMENT (2d Lt Graning): 415th Night Fighter Squadron
LOCATION: 1 1/2 miles from Bar-Le-Duc, France
REMARKS: Collision with the ground; flying too low, 10-20 feet above buildings
Photo of 41-3365 from asisbiz.com
From The Norwalk Hour June 4, 1945
Corporal Herbert O. Leavitt of the Army Medical Corps was killed on May 20 in an airplane crash at Bar-le-Duc, France. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Leavitt of 5 Woodside Avenue, have been informed by the War Department. Corporal Leavitt had been overseas for 13 months and was employed as an engineer at the City Ice Company before entering the Army two years ago. He is also survived by his wife, Mrs. Jean Leavitt of New Milford, and two daughters, Linda and Gail. No details of the accident in which he was killed were contained in the War Department communication.
From the Norwalk Hour on May 21, 1946
The poem below was submitted in memory of Corporal Herbert O. Leavitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Leavitt of Woodside Avenue, who was killed in an airplane crash in France a year ago yesterday. Corporal Leavitt was a member of the Medical Corps. In addition to his parents, he left a wife, who has since remarried and moved to New Milford, and two small children.
We little thought when he left home
He would no more return
That he, in death, so soon would sleep,
And leave us here to mourn.
We did not know the pain he bore
We did not see him die,
We only know he passed away,
And never said goodbye.”
From The Norwalk Hour October 26, 1948
The remains of Corporal Herbert O. Leavitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Leavitt, 5 Woodside Avenue, will arrive in Norwalk on Wednesday at 12:30 P.M. In addition to his parents, Corporal Leavitt is survived by his wife, who has since remarried, Mrs. Jean Giddings; and two daughters, Linda and Gail, all of California; four sisters, Mrs. Marion Cook, Mrs. Avis Chaney, Mrs. Edith Girouard and Mrs. Lillian Doulens and three brothers, Lloyd, Lawrence, and Cleveland, all of this city. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Ganung Funeral Home. Reverend Nelson R. Pearson, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, will officiate. Interment will take place in the American Legion Plot in Riverside Cemetery. Full military honors will be accorded to the deceased. Friends may call at the Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 10 P.M.
TEC5 Leavitt is buried at Riverside Cemetery, 81 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section 11, Plot 1. Photo by webmaster.
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