Francis Augustus Lenich
MilitaryBack L to R: Lt. John Lynch (bombardier), Lt. Lawrence Mohr (navigator), Lt. Paul Smith (co-pilot), Lt. Kendall Daskey (Pilot)
Front L to R: Sgt. J Van Beveren (Radio), Sgt. Charles H. Eyre (Engineer/ Top Turret), Sgt. Francis Lenich (Ball Turret), Sgt. Leo Teetman, Jr. (Flexible Gunner), Sgt. Jack Weaver (Flexible Gunner), Sgt. Robert Schleuse (Tail Gunner)
Photo taken prior to 30 Dec 43
Post 633, Seaman, Ohio
Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Kendall Daskey crew. 30 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLM), Defense, WWII Victory, GC, EAME (Battle Star).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sweetheart
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Reading, PA | 28 August 1920 | Son of Frank E and Marie T. [Albright] Lenich. |
Enlisted |
Philadelphia, PA | 16 June 1941 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Other Promotion |
Grafton Underwood, UK | 18 February 1944 | Promoted to Tech Sergeant. |
Other Controlled crash landing |
Grafton Underwood, UK | 31 March 1944 | Returning to base from a recalled operational mission in B-17 42-38013, the left main landing gear would not extend. Jettisoned bomb load and ball turret, then flew locally to use up fuel supply. Then made a successful landing using only the right main gear and tail wheel, resulting in minimal damage to the aircraft, and no injury to crew. |
Other Discharged USAAF |
18 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Ardmore, OK | 18 June 2000 | |
Buried |
Saint Marys Cemetery, Ardmore, Carter County, OK | 21 June 2000 | Saint Marys Cemetery Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma |
Based |
Grafton Underwood | Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/543855185
https://www.fold3.com/record/17297891-francis-a-lenich
https://www.fold3.com/record/83741655-francis-a-lenich
https://www.fold3.com/record/713498509-lenich-francis-a
https://www.fold3.com/record/529270556-francis-lenich-1920
https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=2293
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24023011/francis-a._%22bud%22-lenich
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…