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Peter L Kleist
Bombardier 352nd BS
301st BG 5th BW 15th AAF
Moonlight Serenade
Peter Leroy Kleist 1920 - 1985
Peter Leroy Kleist born Aril 10, 1920 in Chicago,IL.
Passed away at the age of 65 in Van Nuys, California 1985.
Aviation Cadet, Santa Ana California
Active duty March 6, 1942 - March 5, 1945. Bombardier 15th AAF, 301st BG, 352nd BS.
8th AAF, 12th AAF and the 15th AAF
Served in the ETO, MTO, Middle East Theater of Operations
Extract: San Angelo AAF, Texas August 31, 1945 - September 6, 1945
Separation: Camp Atterby, Indiana. September 8, 1945
Arrive Home Town: Winamac, Indiana. September 9, 1945
Dedication
















LAST UP-DATE
04/06/2010
Incomplete Grouping of Medals / Ribbons Earned
Click for Sound
Air Medal
15th AAF
European_African_Middle_Eastern_
Campaign_Medal_
Ribbon
Victory Medal
Air force in Europe Medal
Good Conduct Metal
Four- Oak Leaf Cluster
Four - Bronze Stars
Air
Ribbon
Presidential
Unit Citation
Bombing involved complex principles of physics and mathematics, including the laws of falling bodies and of motion, and concepts of air resistance and air movement. Students, to succeed as bombardiers, had to he able to comprehend these principles. Allied traits included
a good memory; ability to locate and identify, the target; and ability to perform duties rapidly and accurately under pressure of limited time and the strain of combat. A graduate of bombardier school had to he confident, resourceful, and cooperative. He was a leader, planner and organizer who was willing to take responsibility for the success of missions.
And evidence of absolute loyalty was required of the bombardier, perhaps more so than of any other air crew member. The bombardier was given the care of an instrument that was early classified as "Secret". This instrument was the Norden bombsight, a precision bomb-aiming and bomb release mechanism, actually a very delicate and sophisticated target-tracking computer. The bombardier knew this complex instrument inside and out.
Bombardier Cadet
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