Robert J Lehnhausen
Military
photo from the personal collection of Robert J. Lehnhausen, provided by his grandson Navin Pinto
Object Number - UPL 32185 - Robert J. Lehnhausen
Joined Sqd 3/16/43.
DS/Bengahzi 6/26/43.
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40373.
Injured 7/2/43 (Lecce).
DS/Sicily 8/13/43.
Returned to base 8/26/43.
DS/Tunis 9/16/43.
Returned to base 10/12/43.
Trans/Group 1/29/44.
Rejoined 68 BS 4/8/44.
Promoted to C. O. 4/11/44.
Completed tour 10/2/44.
Promoted to Lt. Col. 4/19/45.
Returned to ZOI 5/30/45.
Flew 44-42189 home.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Natchez Belle
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Peoria, Illinois | 11 September 1919 | |
|
Enlisted |
Peoria, IL, USA | 5 May 1941 | |
|
Other 44th BG Combat Tour |
Shipdham, UK | 16 March 1943 - 11 April 1944 | Temporarily based in Libya for several weeks during his tour. |
|
Died |
Peoria, IL, USA | 5 March 2018 | Lt. Colonel U.S. Army Air Force Veteran, World War Two, Peoria Mayor-Former Mayor of Peoria, Robert J. Lehnhausen, died of natural causes on 3-5-2018 in Peoria, Illinois. Mr. Lehnhausen is the son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Florence Lehnhausen, and the wonderful husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Waugh Lehnhausen of 72 years, and the father of eight children, Master Robert, died 1946, Mrs. Mary Jo Lehnhausen, Arun Pinto, Mr. Phillip Teresa Lehnhausen, Mrs. Ann Jack Burtelow, Mr. Tom Lehnhausen, Mrs. Kay Scot Ironside, Mr. Steven Karen Lehnhausen, and Mr. David Lehnhausen, and 13 Grandchildren, and 16 Great-Grandchildren, and two nieces out West in Oregon and Washington, Miss Tamara, and Miss Glenna Shaules, They are the Grandaughters of 1lt. Edward Clark Lehnhausen who was killed on his tenth mission in a B-24 Bomber. Needless to say, the was no problem of putting Clark's name on the WWII Memorial. Bob was Mayor of Peoria from 1965-1969, and I was in the Air Force at that time, and we did not discuss much Politics or his other business ventures. We talked about our service with the Air Force. It should be noted that Bob's Funeral Mass will be at 12 noon on 3-10-2018 at the St. Jude Catholic Church, and visitation will start at 10:30AM. Awards: Distinguish Flying Cross, Air Medal with two Bronze Clusters, Soldiers' Medal,saving two of his crewmen, Bronze Star Medal, European Campaign Medal with Two Battle Stars, Air Corps Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal. Footnote: It should be noted that Bob, Mayor Jim Maloof, and Father Livingston graduated from Spalding in 1937, and he was on the outside formation during the Polesti Raid in 1943. |
|
Buried |
Peoria, IL, USA | 10 March 2018 | Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA Plot: Family Plot |
|
Other Mayor of Peoria, Illinois |
Peoria, IL, USA |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Webb Todd
