Albert H. Leighton

Albert H. Leighton, 91 of Denver; Husband of Emma (also known as Pat) Leighton; Father of Jacqueline (Roger) Yoshinari, Pamela Leighton and James Leighton; Grandfather of David and Daniel Yoshinari, Katherine Y. (Michael) Mohammadi, and Chelsie Modrell, Great Grandfather of Nathan Mohammadi and Uncle of Nancy Dupre, Thelma Peltier, and Carolyn Roy. He is dearly loved and missed by his family and friends. Albert H. Leighton was born May 6, 1919 in Berlin, New Hampshire and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His brothers, Robert and Frank, and his sister Ella preceded him in death. He graduated from Pawtucket (present-day Tolman) High School in 1937. His first car was a used Model A Ford, for which he paid twenty dollars. On his 18th birthday (May 6, 1937), he watched the Hindenburg fly over Pawtucket twice (going north, then south) before it crashed in New Jersey. In June 1939 he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. In 1940, while attending Photo School at Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado, he met his future wife, Emma (Pat) Manning. He was appointed aviation cadet in June 1942, graduating as a pilot and commissioned second lieutenant in March 1943. He was stationed in Norwich, England, and flew bombing missions over Germany. Before returning stateside, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (with three oak leaf clusters); the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal; two Bronze Stars, and other WWII campaign ribbons. One of his memorable experiences while overseas was the forced landing of his crew's B-24 on the beach at Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland on July 10, 1943. Fifty years later, on July 10, 1993, he attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at O'Looney's Pub in Lahinch, and was asked to give an impromptu speech at the festivities. On August 6, 1944, Captain Leighton and Pat Manning were married in Denver. Released from active duty in December 1945, Al remained active in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as lieutenant colonel in 1969. He attended the University of Denver (Business Administration) and was employed in sales (Davis Bros. Inc.) and purchasing (Hodels Drug Stores), retiring in 1985. A lifelong aviation and photography buff, he particularly enjoyed photographing airplanes, and endured some gentle ribbing about it from his family. In December 2006, Al and Pat moved to Porter Place Retirement Home. Al was in relatively good health until early December, and passed away on December 29, 2010 after a short illness.