Lt. Lewis was the pilot of a P-51 fighter, #44-14529 of the 335th FS section, 4th FG, USAAF, the "Fighting Eagles", based near Epping, Essex UK. On Nov. 18th, Lt. Lewis' squadron was flying a fighter suppression mission in conjunction with a B-24 bombing raid intended to destroy the Luftwaffe areodrome near Leipheim, in Bavaria. He was shot down in a dogfight with 4 Leftwaffe fighter, downing 3 before falling victim to the 4th. His body was recovered by villagers and buried in the local cemetery. At the conclusion of the war, his grave was identified and with consent of the family, he was reinterred at the Ardennes American Military Cemetery outside of Liege, Belgium. His unit received the Distinguished Unit Citation for their actions between March 5th and April 24th, 1944, and Lt. Lewis was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Lt. Lewis was the pilot of a P-51 fighter, #44-14529 of the 335th FS section, 4th FG, USAAF, the "Fighting Eagles", based near Epping, Essex UK. On Nov. 18th, Lt. Lewis' squadron was flying a fighter suppression mission in conjunction with a B-24 bombing raid intended to destroy the Luftwaffe areodrome near Leipheim, in Bavaria. He was shot down in a dogfight with 4 Leftwaffe fighter, downing 3 before falling victim to the 4th. His body was recovered by villagers and buried in the local cemetery. At the conclusion of the war, his grave was identified and with consent of the family, he was reinterred at the Ardennes American Military Cemetery outside of Liege, Belgium. His unit received the Distinguished Unit Citation for their actions between March 5th and April 24th, 1944, and Lt. Lewis was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Bio by: Robert Willis Lewis
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Illinois.
Family Members
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