Peter L Kleist, Uncle Roy to me, started his active duty in the AAF March 6, 1942 and mustered out of March 5,1945. Serving in the 301st Bombardment Group, 352nd Bomb Squadron flying out of England (UK) as a Bombardier in the 8th AAF. On September 14th he was assigned to the 12th AAF in North Africa, moved to Foggia, Italy Nov 1st, 1943 assigned to the 15th AAF. He was a original crew member of Moonlight Cocktail a F model B17, I can’t pin point when or where.
With information I have compiled to date I have been able to start building this web site. To tell his story, I should start at the beginning.
I grew up in rural Indiana with my two brothers, my Grand Mother Kleist lived next door to my parents. Uncle Roy lived in Van Nuys, California and would make frequent visits to my home town, Winamac, Indiana. Being the youngest of three boys not old enough to be out doing things on my own very often, I spent most of my time around the house. So when Uncle Roy would make one of his many visits to town he always made the time to spend we me. Once in a while we would go to town and nose around. Once he purchased streamers and everything else that a kid would want one his new bicycle. He was always doing little things that is the type of person he was. At that time I was not aware of the sacrifices he made only a few years before. Too young at the time.
A few years later I began to hear things about him at family gatherings and the stories my father talked about. Things about his participation in the 2nd World War. A war that he would never talk about. I knew a few things like he had been shot down three times while on missions deep into occupied Europe. Twice the underground had got him back to allied lines. Once his plane ditched in the Mediterranean where he was picked up by local fisherman or a British patrol boat. As a kid I would always listen to the stories with great interest.
I would go next door to visit my Grandmother from time to time. There was a cedar chest at the end of the bed in her guest room and I always wondered what was in it. The guest room was just of the kitchen where we would visit and the chest was in clear view adding to my interest. On one of my visits my grandmother told me that the chest contained things from the war that belonged to my Uncle. She then let me open the chest and look over its contents, Medals, Ribbons, Flight Jacket and photos of him as a Cadet and a 2nd LT. Photos of him at Geiger Field and two photos of B17s ( Moonlight Cocktail and Bachelors’ DELIGHT) with my Uncle and crews pictured.
Years later I came to realize that a lot of these artifacts had disappeared for one reason or another.
This is when I started to research my Uncles involvement in the war.
The summer of 1985 I worked a World War ll War Bird Air Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. The next week I sent photos and booklets to my Uncle in hopes that they would unlock his silence that he maintained over the years. The next Sunday afternoon he called and began to tell me of the experiences he had during the war. We spent what seemed three hours or more on the phone, he was talking and I was listing. At times I was able to sneak in a question or two. He told me about the missions he flew,the friendly fighters, the enemy fighters , the flack, the bomb runs and the release of bombs over the target. He described the carnage of the air war that took place 22,000 feet above earth. In his words “as I can remember”, what is was like flying through a air born junk yard of exploding aircraft and the head on confrontations with enemy fighters.He talked of the friends, wounded and dying crew members. So much information that I was overwhelmed.
I tried to document what he had to say but it was hard to remember it all. Knowing that we would talk more on down the road and I would be able to put together a more accurate story I wasn't concerned of the information that I had missed. He passed away later that year taking all of what he had to say about that crucial point in time.
This brings me to the reason for maintaining this web site and adding new information as it becomes available. I want to document as much as I can about him and the 352nd Bomb Squadron before it is all lost in time. To honor Him and those who served with him, he deserves it, they deserve it.
The words “Greatest Generation” couldn't be more fitting to them all.
