Private Arnoldy was born in Tipton, Kansas on May 3, 1896. We received the following information on Leo Arnoldy from his daughter in an email in June of 2007:
"He was a pilot, a trainer and became very ill, so he could not ship out with his troup (he had missed recent physical and qualifying hours) so he went with them as a gunner.
He and his pilot were shot down in France. His pilot died and the French group got him down out of the tree and he was put in the hospital. When he was better he cooked for them. Thier air base was attacked and most got off but there was one bomber left. He flew it around behind the attackers and saved it. That is why he got the Croix de Guerre. When his troup arrived he went with them.
At the end of the war he was offered a captaincy (he was a lieutenant) if he would stay. He wanted to get home and marry my mom so he refused. The officer said he could make him stay and he lost it and hit the officer. That is why he was busted down to a private, but he did get home.
He was buried with honors when he died in l976, Christmas Eve."
Thank you. His daughter, Leota Arnoldy Heideman
Leo Arnoldy was one of the few enlisted, non-commissioned pilots and observers. His discharge certificate specifically indicates that he was an "Observer, R.M.A." and that he is "entitled to wear enlisted flyer’s brevet consisting of crossed propellers with wing on each side to be worn on right sleeve". He was also entitled to wear "two gold service chevrons and one gold wound chevron".
* The insignia of the 1105th Aero Squadron is the "Winged Elephant" seen on Arnoldy’s uniform in the museum. |
