Leroy Kenneth Bayless

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes American Air Museum in Britain, Person Listing: SGT Bayless
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave Marker Photo(s), Click for image.
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) or After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

Aircraft Identified
 B-17 42-97387 / Maude An' Maria as listed on:
 Website: b17flyingfortress.de B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress - The Queen Of The Skies B-17 42-97387

WWII Draft Card Data
Leroy Kenneth Bayless
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 18  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: May 22, 1925  -  Birth Place: Clear Lake, Washington
Residence Place: McMillin, Pierce County, Washington
Registration Date: 5/22/1943  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Student
Weight: 162, Height: 6' 0"
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue, Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Charles F. Bayliss
Members of Household:
Leroy Kenneth Bayless, Self
Charles F. Bayliss, Father

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Name: Leroy Kenneth Bayless
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: 19
Birth Date: abt 1925
Admission Date: Oct 1944
Discharge Date: Oct 1944
Military Branch: Air Force, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis:
  First Location: Unknown, code not applicable;
  Causative Agent: None or Unknown
   (Other records indicate Anoxia or Hypoxia en route to target)
Type of Injury: Casualty, battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Service Number: 3921 4265

Note 1: The death location, "Over Cologne Germany" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of SGT Bayless, this location was estimated on:

A. His Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623, identifies his assigned unit as the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group.

B. The American Air Museum in Britain, Person Listing identifies his aircraft as B-17 42-97387 / Maude An' Maria and that SGT Bayless was a victom of "anoxia".

C. Hospital Admission Records indicate that SGT Bayless died on October 15, 1944, as a result of an "Unknown" cause.

D. The B-17 research website b17flyingfortress.de/en, identifies the final fate of B-17 'Maude An' Maria' on February 3, 1945. See B-17 42-97387 for crew information and further details.

E. Further information on the 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 603rd Bomber Squadron can be found at Wikipedia site 398th Bomber Group.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

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Note 2. Information is sourced from the public domain and may be copied and distributed without permission.