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Personal info

Full name
LEKAS, Frank
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
Hometown
Hudson County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12162757
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
1 December 1943
Place of death
Snellegem, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Plot Row Grave
A 7 46

Immediate family

Members
Steven Lekas (father)
Mary (Gretchison) Lekas (mother)
Fay Lekas (sister)
George Lekas (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24557
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Damn Yankee
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the non-ferrous metals plant
MACR: 1334

More information

S/Sgt Frank Lekas volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Newark, New Jersey on 8 October 1942.

The airplane left the formation over Belgium after fighters caused severe damage to the rear section. Five crew members bailed out before it nosed down and crashed at Snellegem, six miles southwest of Bruges, Belgium, at 1255hrs. Four of them were taken prisoner after they touched the ground a half mile from Ettelgem.

Four crew members were killed. Their remains were found in the wreckage.

Source of information: André Koch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR 1334, www.findagrave.com, http://www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbook, 1880-2012, Jersey City, Dickinson High School 1939