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Archiver > ILFRANKL > 2000-07 > 0962480314


From: Jo Ann McGhee <>
Subject: Re: Les JONES/Ralph LEWIS - friends
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 14:38:34 -0500


Patsy,
The article says that Ralph LEWIS was killed in action in Germany in WW II - he
had joined the Army Air Corps. Les JONES joined the Navy Air Corp.Lewis was
speed-trained in 90 days and shipped to England in Sept. 1944, and he flew a
P-51 Mustang. Nov. 18, 1944, Lewis and 19 others flew a formation of P-51s
into Germany on a strafing mission (one day after LEWIS' 20th birthday) Lewis'
plane went down in a field just south of Leipheim, Germany.

If I don't find a relative who wants the original article, I'll send to you. If
I do, will send you a photocopy. Please send your address?
Thanks!
Jo ann
connally wrote:

> Jo Ann. I went to school with Ralph and Levi. I too graduated in 1942.
> But somewhere in the back of my senior mind I think I remember that Ralph
> Lewis died in Florida during WWII on a flight training flight. I thought he
> was training to be a naval aviator. Am I wrong? I would love to have the
> article if it is not too much trouble. Patsy Neal Connally
>
> Jo Ann McGhee wrote:
>
> > Is anyone on the FCI list a relative of either of these men of Benton,
> > IL? Or knows someone who is?
> > If so, I am sure they would like to have this heartwarming article about
> > these two friends. (long, long article)
> >
> > Ralph LEWIS was the brother of the late Dr. Harry Lee LEWIS; Ralph and
> > Les JONES were boyhood friends in Benton; Ralph was killed in action in
> > Germany in World War II; last year, Les traveled to Europe in search of
> > clues about his friend's death. The two men graduated from Benton Twp.
> > High School in 1942. In his youth, Les JONES was called Levi. Ralph's
> > dad was a county judge; Les's dad was a coal miner.
> > Jo Ann

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