Samuel Gordon Leftenant (1924 - 1945)

Born 16 Mar 1924 in Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 12 Apr 1945 at age 21 in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria

Problems/Questions Profile manager: US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

Samuel Leftenant is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

Biography

2 Lt. Samuel Leftenant was Missing in Action during World War II.

Samuel Leftenant was awarded the Purple Heart.

Samuel Leftenant is Notable.

Samuel Gordon Leftenant served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.^[1]

Samuel Leftenant was born in Babylon, New York in 1924. He was one of thirteen children of James Leftenant and Eunice Middleton. His parents were born and married in South Carolina, where James owned a farm. Around 1924 the family moved to Babylon, New York, where Samuel was born. His father worked as a caretaker for a private home.^[2]

Sam and all five of his brothers served in some capacity during World War II.

Samuel graduated from flight training on September 8, 1944 at the Tuskegee Army Air Field and was deployed to Italy with the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. On 12 April, 1945, Samuel took off from Ramitelli Air Base in Italy on a mission to Sankt Veit, Austria.^[3] According to Missing Air Crew Reports, Lt. Leftenant's plane collided with another plane on the same mission, and he was forced to bail out approximately 5 miles northwest of Feldhrichen. Samuel was listed as Missing in Action and his remains have never been recovered. A memorial stone in Arlington National Cemetery commemorates his life. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ https://cafriseabove.org/samuel-gordon-leftenant/
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4YW-LRM : accessed 12 March 2021), Samuel Leftenant in household of James Leftenant, Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 11, sheet 4B, line 94, family 104, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1649; FHL microfilm 2,341,383.
3. ↑ Samuel Gordon Leftenent, HonorStates.org
4. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/leftenant%3Dsamuel

• Find a Grave, database and images: accessed 18 September 2020, memorial page for Samuel Gordon Leftenant (16 Mar 1924–12 Apr 1945), Find A Grave: Memorial #153392424, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Patrick Ryan McGrady (contributor 47493566)
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112742560/samuel-gordon-leftenant : accessed 04 March 2022), memorial page for 2LT Samuel Gordon Leftenant (16 Mar 1924–12 Apr 1945), Find A Grave: Memorial #112742560, citing Amityville Cemetery, Amityville, Suffolk County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Tiffany T. (contributor 47903410) .

• https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171667

• Washington Post story with photos of Arlington service.