Second Lt. Leroy Kline died non battle. His service number 0-725886. Leroy Kline was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Harry Kline and Nora O’Hara. He was married to Mary Ann Kline. At the time of his death he was living in Chicago, Illinois. His younger brother, Harry Allen Kline also served during World War II. He had an older sister, Eleanor Kline.

He was one of five crew members (1st Lt. William S. Southern, 2nd Lt. Leroy Kline, Sgt. Robert E. Pierce. Sgt. William R. Dart, Sgt. Albert Povodnik) of a Lockheed A-29-LO serial number 41-23323. He bailed out and went missing in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean on 20 November 1942. He was detached at Portland AAB at Tongue Point Naval Air Station in Astoria, Oregon.

As the aircraft lost altitude, two men bailed out; the plane’s navigator, 2nd Lt. Leroy Kline, was likely followed by the gunner, Sgt. Robert E. Pierce, though surviving crew members did not see Pierce jump — witnesses ashore reported seeing two parachutes.  Sgt. Povodnik made an effort to jump and crawled out onto the back of the plane, but his parachute snagged the empennage of the aircraft and instead he came down with the plane.
Sgt. Pierce’s body was apparently later recovered, and is buried at the Hartsoe Cemetery in Marmaduke, Green County, Arkansas.  There is scant information on the other two crewmembers.  Sgt. Albert Povodnik’s name is listed on the state of Kansas World War II casualty list for Chautauqua County.  Second Lt. Leroy Kline’s name is inscribed on the WWII casualty list for Knox County.
  • Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Date of birth:
    • 14 September 1917
  • Date of death: 20 November 1942
  • County: Knox
  • Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
  • Conflict: World War II
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Middle Panel
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