Louis Martin LeFevre was born in 1920 in Detroit, Michigan, although his hometown is later listed as Los Angeles, California. His father was Frank C. LeFevre.

The first military record found on LeFevre is his assignment to the 562nd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, operating from Knettishall, England. According to 388th Bomb Group mission and personnel records, he was a tail gunner who flew 41 missions with a variety of crews.

On February 10, 1944, he was flying as part of the Feeney crew, scheduled for a mission to Brunswick, Germany. Twenty-two aircraft took off; six aborted before assembly and formation. The remaining aircraft continued on the raid.

Details of the mission are quite sparse. Mission records state resistance to target was moderate, and the bomb drop was planned for PPF (Pathfinder.) The weather was found to be clear, so the drop was made visually. Flak at the target was reported as intense, and approximately 25 FW-109s attacked the formation in groups of three. Two-engined fighters fired rockets into the formation. The mission log ends with "Three aircraft were shot down."

Lefevre is credited with 41 missions, but there are several discrepancies in the record. First, he is shown as having been aboard 5 aircraft that aborted, giving no credit. Then, mission listing shows he flew as part of Lt. D. Miller's crew from March 26, 1944 to April 29 1944 with credit for 15 missions. However, it is well-recorded that LeFevre was killed on February 10, 1944, making those missions impossible. Records on mission lists show a D.M. Lefevre, who does not appear in any other 388th Bomb Group records.

He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. Louis was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, airforce.togetherweserved.com