Leon Frank Zombeck was born on February 4, 1923 in Moon Run, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He resided in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on January 6, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in a machine shop and also as Single, with dependents. Leon served as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer / Gunner on B-24J #42-109966, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-109966 took off on a night mission from Kweilin, China over the the Yangtze River Valley. After takeoff they were not heard from or seen again. The entire crew was lost on June 18, 1944. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until February 27, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Tsgt Zombeck was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov