Frederick H. LeFebre was born on July 17, 1919, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids, he entered Aviation Cadet training in 1941 and, upon graduating in 1942, was assigned to a fighter squadron flying P-40 aircraft at various locations along the East Coast. He was one of the original members of the 351st Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, when it was formed at Norfolk, Virginia, and later moved to Millville, New Jersey. He began flying P-47 Thunderbolts during the winter of 1942–43.

With the 351st Fighter Squadron, LeFebre deployed to England in June 1943 and flew two combat tours totaling 119 missions from fighter stations at Metfield and Raydon between June 1943 and February 1945. During this period, he rose to command the squadron. He was credited with destroying three enemy aircraft in aerial combat, as well as numerous trains and military vehicles during interdiction and ground-support missions. He also participated in some of the earliest dive-bombing missions flown by P-47s in the European theater.

Following World War II, LeFebre remained in the U.S. Air Force. In the summer of 1946, while stationed in Germany, he transitioned from propeller-driven aircraft to jet fighters, including the P-80. During the Korean War, he flew a combat tour in F-86 Sabres in 1952–53. He continued flying throughout his Air Force career, primarily in jet fighters, and was promoted to the rank of Colonel on July 26, 1960. He held that rank for the remainder of his military career and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel in 1970.

During his military career, Colonel LeFebre received numerous decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, along with various other awards. Among the many fighter aircraft he flew during his career were the P-40, P-47, P-51, P-80, T-33, F-86, F-101, F-102, and Mach 2-capable F-106. Despite his extensive experience with increasingly advanced aircraft, LeFebre considered the P-47 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the “Jug”, his sentimental favorite.

Colonel Frederick H. LeFebre died on April 23, 2008, at the age of 88. He is buried alongside his wife, Garretta LeFebre, at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, California.

Source of information and photo: http://p47pilots.com