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Personal info

Full name
LEIDECKER, Theodore W
Date of birth
13 September 1924
Age
18
Place of birth
Kanakee, Kankakee County, Illinois
Hometown
Kanakee, Kankakee County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16126272
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
533rd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
25 June 1943
Place of death
North Sea, 3 miles west of Bensersiel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Theodore Leidecker (father)
Alice Leidecker (mother)
Theodora A. Leidecker (sister)
Mildred Leidecker (sister)
Pearl Leidecker (sister)
Florence Leidecker (sister)
Arlene Leidecker (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30027
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
MACR: 162

More information

S/Sgt Theodore W. Leidecker volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 18 September 1942.

The airplane was shot down by German fighters at 09:10 hours and crashed in the sea, three miles west of Bensersiel, Germany. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, MACR 162, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Marcia Stang - President Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society