Sources: findagrave honorstates.org U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949

Name: Arthur Hughes McLeod Rank: Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class Service Number: 2025157 Service: Patrol Bombing Squadron 149, United States Navy Awards: Purple Heart Date of Birth: September 9, 1922 Place of Birth: Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Date of Enlistment: October 5, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Boston, Massachusetts Address at Enlistment: North Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Age at Enlistment: 19 Height: 5 feet, 11 inches Complexion: Ruddy Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue Date of Death: March 12, 1945 Age: 22 Memorial: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Reference: Tablets of the Missing Arthur Hughes MacLeod was the son of Albert Anthony McLeod (1897-1992) born in in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Lennie Hughes McLeod (1897-1973), born in Milford, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, and the brother of Mildred H. McLeod (b. 1927). Arthur’s parents immigrate to the United States from Nova Scotia in 1919, and Arthur was born in September 1922. Arthur and his family returned home often to Nova Scotia, with record of their travels in 1924, 1930, 1934 and 1940, visiting Albert’s father in Toronto, and Lennie’s parents in Milford Station, Nova Scotia. In Massachusetts, the family lived at 61 Ruggles Street in Quincy, Norfolk Co. from the early 1920’s until 1935, when they moved to 159 Phipps Street, in Quincy. Arthur graduated from Quincy High School, Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1940. Arthur Hughes McLeod, age 19, a resident of 15 Pierce St., North Quincy, Massachusetts, registered for the US Draft on June 30, 1942, in Quincy. He was employed by N. Y. N H & H R Co. - Readville Shops (New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Co. office in Readville, Massachusetts). Arthur listed his mother, Mrs. Lennie McLeod, as the person who would always know his address. Enlisting in the US Navy, Arthur was assigned to Patrol Bombing Squadron 149. VP-149 (later redesignated VPB-149) and was commissioned on September 16, 1943, at the Naval Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina. On October 6, 1943, the squadron moved to N.A.A.F. Boca Chica, Key West, Florida, where it stayed for a six-week period of shakedown training. This training included ground school classes, navigational training flights, bombing and gunnery flights, and anti-submarine warfare exercises. During the following 8 ½ months, VB-149, in their new Lockheed Ventura PV-1 twin engine bombers, was engaged in anti-submarine patrol in the Eastern Sea Frontier with Fleet Air Wing 9. Most of the flights were of a routine nature, involving convoy coverage, anti-submarine sweeps, and specific area searches. About 20% to 25% of the total operation flight time was night flying. Average length of time for each flight was about four hours. Planes were sent as far as 350 miles off shore. In addition, a continuous training program was maintained. The squadron was transferred to Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda, California arriving November 8, 1944. All hands were given 10 days leave prior to this assignment. The next 3 weeks were spent in final preparations for their tour of duty in the Pacific. AOM2c McLeod was assigned to a crew including Boyd, Martin, Richey, and Sheffler. They were assigned to 3rd Division, Section VIII, 15. Lt. Julius J. Boyd was Gunnery Officer for the squadron. Lt. (JG) James D. Martin was Athletic Officer for the squadron. On November 29, 1944, the squadron boarded the escort carrier USS Wake Island (CVE-65) and was transferred to NAS Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii (arriving December 5th), for more training in bombing, gunnery, jungle survival, and navigation. The squadron had a regular complement of 12 operational aircraft and an additional 3 planes assigned as spares. On February 28, 1945, VPB-149 was transferred to Manus Island for duty with the Seventh Fleet. On March 10th, VPB-149 was relocated to Tacloban Airfield, Leyte, Philippine Islands. Operational flights out of Tacloban were started March 11th. Three sector searches extending as far west and south as North Borneo, and Palawan Island were flown daily: also, one sector northward along the eastern Luzon Coast. Flights averaged 7.5 hours in duration. (Source: WWII Diaries - Squadron History - VPB-149.) 3 serious accidents marred the month’s (March) operations for Patrol Bombing Squadron 149. AOM2c McLeod was the gunner on board patrol bomber PV-1 BuNo. 49614 that took off from Tacloban at 9:00 a.m. on March 12, 1945, on a routine sector search to the northeast coast of Borneo. Despite repeated attempts by base to make radio contact with the plane, no communication was ever established probably due to the instrument weather conditions which prevailed throughout a major portion of the area. After an extensive three-day search by special PV-1 aircraft and air-sea rescue planes, no trace of the plane or crew was ever found. The plane was presumed lost at sea, and the crew reported as missing in action. (Source: WWII War Diary – Patrol Bombing Squadron 149, Report for the period 1-31 March 1945, pages 1-2.) In addition to Arthur McLeod, the 4 men from Patrol Bombing Squadron 149 PV-1 BuNo. 49614 missing in action were: Lieutenant Julius J. Boyd – Pilot (Service No. O-98412) USNR Lieutenant (Junior Grade) James D. Martin – Co-pilot (Service No. O-202515) USNR Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Norton J. Richey, Jr. – Plane Captain (Service No. 2687250) USN Aviation Radioman Third Class Jackson R. Sheffler – Radioman (Service No. 7585401), USNR AOM2c McLeod and the other 4 PV-1 crewmen were officially listed as killed in action on March 13, 1946, one year and one day after they went missing.