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Personal info

Full name
LEHRMANN, Louis Allisson Jr
Date of birth
22 April 1925
Age
20
Place of birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Hometown
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
38496553
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
8 April 1946
Place of death
In the vicinity of Uelzen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Louis A. Lehrmann (father)
Antonina (Albano) Lehrmann (mother)
Jeannie Lehrmann (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8334
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ordnance depot
MACR: 13716

More information

S/Sgt Louis A. Lehrmann Jr. was a musician before he enlisted in New Orleans, Louisiana on 17 July 1943.

The aircraft was downed during a raid on 8 April 1945. It was attacked by an ME-109. The #3 engine caught fire and the pilot peeled out of formation and feathered the damaged engine. The engine fire went out but the wheel well was blasing fiercely. The bombs were salveed and the airplane completed a 180 degree turn and headed back alone. It was last seen under control and diving into a cloud bank.

Three crew members were killed and officially declared dead one year later, six were taken prisoner.

Surviving crew members stated after the ware they believed their comrades were killed by civilians when they landed from their jumps. They heard firing from several directions when they touched the ground.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.100thbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.americanairmuseum.com

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Mr. Bill Culley / 100 BG Association via Arie-Jan van Hees