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Lester Aloysius “Les” Steinke

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Lester Aloysius “Les” Steinke

Birth
Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, USA
Death
18 Nov 2022 (aged 100)
Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Burial
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 79, Site 1893
Memorial ID
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Lester Aloysius Steinke Served this nation proudly in the United States Army Air Corps During World War II. Lester enlisted right after Pearl Harbor, qualified for pilot training and because of his high scores in flying school was trained as a fighter pilot. Les started with the P-47 Thunderbolt and then trained to fly the new P-51D Mustang. Les was stationed at the 15th Air Force Fighter Base in Magna, Italy serving with the 4th Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group. Les flew 58 combat missions over Europe during the last two years of the war. Les earned the Distinguished Flying Cross on his 31st mission making nine separate passes at an enemy airdrome and in doing so destroyed 4 enemy aircraft and inflicted considerable damage on 4 others plus hangars and ground installations. At some point, his aircraft was hit yet he continued with the runs and barely made it back to base. It was then that it was discovered a shell had passed through his plane hitting the corner of his radiator and the shell had passed less than two feet away from his 75-gallon gas tank just behind the pilot's seat. Captain Steinke epitomizes the expression, "Service Before Self".

It is our honor to stand in silent reverence as we show respect and gratitude to this hero for his sacrifices made for this nation.

Provided by
Jerry & Beth #46982159
Lester Aloysius Steinke Served this nation proudly in the United States Army Air Corps During World War II. Lester enlisted right after Pearl Harbor, qualified for pilot training and because of his high scores in flying school was trained as a fighter pilot. Les started with the P-47 Thunderbolt and then trained to fly the new P-51D Mustang. Les was stationed at the 15th Air Force Fighter Base in Magna, Italy serving with the 4th Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group. Les flew 58 combat missions over Europe during the last two years of the war. Les earned the Distinguished Flying Cross on his 31st mission making nine separate passes at an enemy airdrome and in doing so destroyed 4 enemy aircraft and inflicted considerable damage on 4 others plus hangars and ground installations. At some point, his aircraft was hit yet he continued with the runs and barely made it back to base. It was then that it was discovered a shell had passed through his plane hitting the corner of his radiator and the shell had passed less than two feet away from his 75-gallon gas tank just behind the pilot's seat. Captain Steinke epitomizes the expression, "Service Before Self".

It is our honor to stand in silent reverence as we show respect and gratitude to this hero for his sacrifices made for this nation.

Provided by
Jerry & Beth #46982159

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CAPTAIN
US ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal

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