World War II Honoree

Leon Poulson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

John R. Pavelich

Relationship

Nephew

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY FEBRUARY 15, 1943 AND SUBSEQUENTLY COMPLETED AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL. ON JUNE 27, 1944, UPON COMPLETION OF FLIGHT SCHOOL, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. ON JULY 7, 1944, HE WAS SENT TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 9TH AIR CORPS, ASSIGNED TO FLYING DUTIES WITH THE 323RD BOMB GROUP, THE 386TH BOMB GROUP AND THE 86TH AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND. WHILE WITH THE 323RD AND THE 386TH, HE FLEW THE B-26 MARTIN MARAUDER, COMPLETING 5 MISSIONS. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM FORT MACARTHUR IN SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER 1945.