Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
LEHR, Leo Robert - Date of
birth
26 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11034382 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Nose Gunner -
Unit
853rd Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1944 - Place of
death
Hannover, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 11 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles A. Lehr (father)
Anna L. (Brainey) Lehr (mother)
Frederick A. Lehr (brother)
Eileen Lehr (sister)
Charles Lehr (brother)
Anna L Lehr (sister)
John F. Lehr (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40212 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: The Easy Way
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deurag synthetic fuel plant
Macr: 11158
More information
S/Sgt Leo R. Lehr was a machine operator.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Falmouth, Massachusetts on 11 December 1942.
The target of that day for 57 B-24's was the synthetic oil refinery in Misburg but 26 bombed the marshalling yard of Hannover as target of opportunity.
The B-24's were attacked by enemy fighter planes and without any doubt were the target the target of anti-aircraft fire. Due to the number of shot down airplanes in the immediate vicinity of both targets, the exact location of the crash of this airplane is uncertain.
However, the records mention the names of crew members of this and other aircraft how were initially buried at the cemetery of Hannover-Seelhorst. It therefore can be assumed that this aircraft crashed close to his target.
Two crew members were taken prisoners, seven men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Birth Index / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Martha Davis