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Submit- Full
name
LEONARD, Lester Arthur - Date of
birth
13 December 1921 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-749438 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 September 1943 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Wirdum, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 17 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas E. Leonard (father)
Leolin (Hill) Leonard (mother)
Colene Leonard (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30792 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the submarine port
MACR: 756
More information
2nd Lt Lester Leonard was a 1939 graduate of Calumet High school where he worked on the schools' newspaper.He enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 25 May 1942.
He was a widower with dependents at the time of his enlistment.
He was stationed at Air Forces station #138, Snetterton Heath Airfield in England.
After the completion of the bomb run his bomber was attacked by several enemy FW-190 Fighters and was shot down in the vicinity of Wirdum, Germany.
Lt Leonard was in the nose of the plane when he was hit by 20mm shells in the chest. He died while in the air.
The bottom picture was taken in high school in 1939.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov – Orvile L. Kline, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, Chicago Tribune - 8 March 1944, www.ancestry.com - Calumet High school yearbook 1939