Lt. Laroy Frederick Schlenker lost his life in action while on duty with the 98th Bomb Group for "Operation Tidal Wave " one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the crew of SEMPER FELIX destroy Rumanian oil refineries.

Flown by Lt. August W. Sulflow and crew. Briefed to fly extreme right position on the 5th and last wave attacking White IV. SEMPER FELIX flying at 300 ft took several MG and AA hits on the target run and was brought down shortly after bombing the target area through, explosions and smoke.

Semper Felix and crew were on their 23rd mission. Sgt. Treichler was the sole survivor.

Later T/Sgt. Treichler recollected: I heard the pilot say "I can't see anything" and the Bombardier calls "steady" gave corrections then "bombs away". The pilot took us down on deck and I saw Politte hit by ground fire double up. Flames flew up at me from the bomb bay tank. Fire hitting upfront pitched us violently, then we exploded. I woke up a few days later in a Rumanian hospital.

Lt. Schlenker does not have a known memorial or monument. He may have been repatriated after WW2 to as yet an unknown US grave location.

Crew of SEMPER FELIX

Pilot: 1st/Lt.August W. Sulflow, CA

Co Pilot: 1st/Lt.Leroy Frederick Schlenker, MN

Navigator: 2nd/Lt. Philip Millar , TX

Bombardier: 2nd/Lt. Anel B. Shay, Jr , WA

Engineer: T/Sgt. Leonard E. Reger , WA

Radio Op: T/Sgt. William E. Treichler, PA (POW)

Gunner: S/Sgt.Henry A. Gallas , NJ

Gunner: S/Sgt. Norman L. Meyer, MO

Gunner: S/Sgt. Vincent L. Politte, KS

Gunner: Sgt. Jack G. Samson, NJ

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

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Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107483113/laroy-frederick-schlenker

Laroy F Schlenker