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Personal info

Full name
KIRKLAND, Lenton Foy Jr
Date of birth
8 March 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Coffee County, Georgia
Hometown
Coffee County, Georgia

Military service

Service number
O-755964
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
429th Fighter Squadron,
474th Fighter Group
Awards
Silver Star,
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
G 11 9

Immediate family

Members
Lenton F. Kirkland (father)
Annette Kirkland (mother)
Martha B. Kirkland (sister)
Anita Kirkland (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-24625
Data
Type: P-38L
Destination: L-1625
Mission: D/B & Strafe
MACR: 11409

More information

1st Lt Lenton F. Kirkland enlisted on 9 December 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida.

Statement from James E. Johnston Jr, 2nd Lt, Air Corps.
I was leading yellow flight in Retail Squadron. We were flying on the deck trying to identify vehicles. Yellow two said that he was hit. I saw Lt Kirkland pull up to an altitude of about 1000 feet, roll over and bail out. His parachute opened at about 700 feet. I saw Lt Kirkland hit in an open field. His ship crashed and exploded. I contacted Sweapstakes who said that the position was 24 miles Southwest of Liege.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, MACR, http://forum.armyairforces.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet / Scott, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-H, Gibbs Field, Ft. Stockton, Texas / Pilot Class Book 43-H, Pecos, Texas