Leighton Duane Patterson was born on January 19, 1921 in Idaho. He was the son of Melvin D. Patterson and Verna Aleda Kohli Patterson. He served in the 327th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy as a Flight Officer and Navigator of the B-17 42-3048 "Sharon Belle" during World War II. His plane exploded near Astwell Castle on November 30, 1943 while aloft for a mission to Solingen, Germany that was scrubbed due to weather. All members of the crew were killed and the cause of explosion was never determined. F/O Patterson is now buried in the Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho, USA. His name is commemorated on a plaque located inside the St. Mary Magdalene Church, Helmdon, England but his surname is spelled Paterson.
Crew members:
Captain Richard W. Pugh - co pilot
1st Lt. William M. Holland - pilot
F/O. Leighton D. Paterson - navigator
2nd Lt. William S. Munro - bombardier
T/Sgt. Thomas D. Glaspell - engineer
T/Sgt. Billy B. Freeman - radio operator
S/Sgt. Dean Landfear - waist gunner
S/Sgt. Charles E. Slayton - waist gunner
S/Sgt. Henry A. Scott - ball turret gunner
S/Sgt. Henry P. Brannan - tail gunner