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Personal info

Full name
LEHNER, Robert W
Date of birth
5 August 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Alameda County, California
Hometown
Oakland, Alameda County, California

Military service

Service number
O-756264
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
603rd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 November 1944
Place of death
Zimmernsupra, near Erfurt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 27 16

Immediate family

Members
Frederick W. Lehner (father)
Wanda O. (Wodecki) Lehner (mother)
Fred W. Lehner (brother)
Wanda L. Lehner (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38671
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Lehner's Raiders
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 11211

More information

Robert W. Lehner completed 28 missions over Europe.

Statement of 2nd Lt Robert S. Luck:
"At the time of the fighters attacked we were above in the high element. We did evasive action, in the course of which I saw Lehner's ship "F" for Freddie peel out of the formation to the right. I didn't see him after that. In the glance I got of him I'm sure I saw an enemy fighter pressing another attack on him."

Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / California Birth Index, www.newspapers.com - Oakland Tribune

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.newspapers.com - Oakland Tribune