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The Return of William L. Leukering to Massac County
Doris Buldtman Vogt fondly recalls the day when William L. Leukering left his home in Massac County to serve in World War II. Eighty years later, Leukering is finally coming back home.
Accounted for After Decades
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on March 20, 2023, that William L. Leukering has been accounted for. His remains are now being returned to Massac County for a final burial at Round Springs Cemetery near Round Knob.
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A Local Hero Remembered
William Luster Leukering, born on September 9, 1915, to Charles F. and Dora Leukering, grew up in the Round Springs community near Round Knob. He graduated from Metropolis Community High School in 1934 before volunteering to join the United States Army Air Corps in 1942.
Service and Sacrifice
Leukering served as a technical sergeant and radio operator, gunner, and crew chief on a B-17G Flying Fortress. He was part of the 816th Bomber Squadron (Heavy), 483rd Bomber Group (Heavy), 15th Air Force headquarters.
The Fateful Mission
On July 18, 1944, during a bombing raid on German air defense installations in Memmingen, Germany, Leukering’s aircraft, the “Shoo-Shoo Baby II,” was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire. The crew attempted to bail out, and six members successfully parachuted to safety, but Leukering and four others were believed to have remained on board as the aircraft exploded.
The Legacy Lives On
Despite the tragic loss, Leukering’s memory lives on in the hearts of his family and the community. The DPAA’s efforts to locate and identify missing American personnel from past conflicts like World War II are crucial in honoring the sacrifices made by individuals like William L. Leukering.
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