Walter Thomas Lease Jr

Military

Walter Lease served as a 2ndLt (S/N O-710283), Navigator on B-17 (S/N #43-37624) "Victory Queen" aka "Liberty Queen", of the 91BG, 401BS, which was shot down by enemy aircraft 20 Juyl 1944 while on a mission to Leipzig, Germany. The plane crashed near Glauchau, Germany. The pilot, Lt Frank Fusco, was killed, two men escaped for a few days, but all eight crew members, including Walter Lease, were captured and finished the war as POWs.



Following repatriation, Walter remained in the Air Force, eventually reaching the rank of Colonel. He retired on 17 January 1950 and returned to his home in Pittsburgh PA. In 1975, Walt persuaded Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to pick up the competetive marbles program which had been dropped by the city of Pittsburgh because of budgetary problems. Under his direction, the program flourished and Allegheny County has since produced more national marbles tournement winners than any other area of the country.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11070248 at enlistment, then O-815875
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12139499
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37002396
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13061140
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35585692
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Liberty Queen, Victory Queen
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittsburgh PA 12 March 1923 Son of Walter F. (Lease) and Ruth Berringer Lesikiewicz

Enlisted

28 September 1942 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

20 July 1944 NARA WWII POW records : “Interned in Germany. Returned to Military Control 12 June 1945.”

Died

14 June 1995 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Buried

Walter Lease rests at the Saint Michaels Cemetery, Mount Oliver, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
MACR 7283

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft card
MACR 7283
NARA German captured records - KU 2526 ( https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147890293 ) and KU-865A ( https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142687464 )
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File

Date
ContributorDHYouse
Changes
Sources

Family HIstory

Date
ContributorA. van Erp
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 7283 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database