| Remember to click on the thumbnail to see full size photo |
| Lynn Jensen |
| Ralph Jones |
| 397th Fighter Squadron Photo Album Page J - N |
| Les Leavoy |
| Kenneth Kalen |
| Leavoy's D3-V "Lizzy" P-47D-30-RE 44-20456 |
| Albert Larsen Jr. Crew Chief D3-X |
2nd Lt. Norman E.
Langmaid
KIA 07June44
MACR #5715, Shot down by
flak near Bayeux, France.
P-47D-25-RE 42-26262
Cemetery: Normandy I-18-11
Langmaid
KIA 07June44
MACR #5715, Shot down by
flak near Bayeux, France.
P-47D-25-RE 42-26262
Cemetery: Normandy I-18-11
| Harris Krause & D3-K "Hard to Get" |
| John Keil Jr. |
| On Dec 17th, 1944 The 397th FS was bounced by almost 40 fighters, Lt. Kerr was credited with 4 destroyed and 1 probable destroyed, just shy of another 368th FG Ace. The air battle and Kerr's action was featured in the Stars and Stripes. |
Les Leavoy continued to
serve after WW2 and
retired in 1976 with 34
years of service to his
country. Les flew 250
combat missions in
Vietnam as Commander
of the 90th TFS and
later the 416th TFS.
Les flew fighters his
entire career with over
6500 hours.
serve after WW2 and
retired in 1976 with 34
years of service to his
country. Les flew 250
combat missions in
Vietnam as Commander
of the 90th TFS and
later the 416th TFS.
Les flew fighters his
entire career with over
6500 hours.
| Les Leavoy with Crew Chief Burton Erickson |
Les Leavoy receiving
2000 hour award for
the F-100 Super Sabre
2000 hour award for
the F-100 Super Sabre
| Charles E. LeGrand |
| Charles Knooihuzen & Arthur Houston |
2nd Lt. Cyril J. Konesny
KIA 14Jan45
MACR #11787, Shot down by
Me-109 near Mannheim, Germany.
Cemetery: Lorraine, France D-34-29
KIA 14Jan45
MACR #11787, Shot down by
Me-109 near Mannheim, Germany.
Cemetery: Lorraine, France D-34-29
| Leonard Kostrach |
| Kerr & Kalen |
| William M. Kerr |
20Sept44
Me-410
Me-410
17Dec44
Me-109
Me-109
17Dec44
FW-190
FW-190
14March45
Me-109
Me-109
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| Major Richard E. Leary |
18Dec44
Me-109
Me-109
14Jan45
FW-190
FW-190
DSC Citation
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William M. Kerr (0-662136), First
Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while
serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 397th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against
enemy forces on 17 December 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date First Lieutenant Kerr shot down FOUR enemy
aircraft in a single engagement. First Lieutenant Kerr's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 37 (1945)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William M. Kerr (0-662136), First
Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while
serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 397th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against
enemy forces on 17 December 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date First Lieutenant Kerr shot down FOUR enemy
aircraft in a single engagement. First Lieutenant Kerr's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 37 (1945)
Major Richard Leary was one of the first Pilots
to go to the front with the infantry as a forward
air controller. During his tour a German tank
fired at his jeep killing 2 and wounding Leary.
He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple
Heart.
Later he would earn the Silver Star for
repeated attacks in bad weather on a German
armor column during the onset of the
Ardennes Offensive.
Major Leary was shot down by a FW-190 on
14Jan45 near Mannheim, Germany and
became a POW.
to go to the front with the infantry as a forward
air controller. During his tour a German tank
fired at his jeep killing 2 and wounding Leary.
He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple
Heart.
Later he would earn the Silver Star for
repeated attacks in bad weather on a German
armor column during the onset of the
Ardennes Offensive.
Major Leary was shot down by a FW-190 on
14Jan45 near Mannheim, Germany and
became a POW.
2nd Lt. Herbert F. Koenig
KIA 17April45
MACR #14206, Struck telephone pole while
strafing near Mlekojedy, south of
Litomerice, Czechoslovakia.
P-47D-28-RA 42-26826
Cemetery: St. Stephen's, Hamilton, Ohio
KIA 17April45
MACR #14206, Struck telephone pole while
strafing near Mlekojedy, south of
Litomerice, Czechoslovakia.
P-47D-28-RA 42-26826
Cemetery: St. Stephen's, Hamilton, Ohio
| Bill Kingrey |
| First Sgt. Francis Lenahan |
| Stan Johnson |
| Stan Johnson, Harry Rogal, & Roy Carlson |
| 397th FS S-2 |
2nd Lt. Gerald B. Kelly
KIA 20Oct44
MACR #9783, Shot down by flak near Aachen,
Germany.
P-47D-20-RE 42-76565
Cemetery: City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah
KIA 20Oct44
MACR #9783, Shot down by flak near Aachen,
Germany.
P-47D-20-RE 42-76565
Cemetery: City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah
| Gerald Kelly, Donald Evans, & Robert Sharp |
