Findin Aid for the Fred L. Lenney Jr. Second World War correspondence 2016.003.w.r

John Encarnacion
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/11/2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Fred L. Lenney, Jr. Second World War correspondence
source: Peggy, Ms., Lenney
Creator: Lenney, Fred Lycett, Jr.
Identifier/Call Number: 2016.003.w.r
Physical Description: .4 Linear feet (8 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 - 1948
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence and other materials concerning Cpl. Fred Lycett Lenney Jr., USAAF during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 26
Container: 5-14
Container: 1-10

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Peggy Lenney

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
  • Series 1, Correspondence from Fred L. Lenney Jr.
  • Series 2, Correspondence from U.S. War Department
  • Series 3, Correspondence from Mabel Meurer
  • Series 4, Correspondence to Mabel Meurer
  • Series 5, Documents and photographs about bomber crew's funeral
  • Series 6, Coleman Flying School yearbook
  • Series 7, Ephemera

Biographical / Historical

Corporal Fred Lycett Lenney, Jr., United States Army Air Force.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Fred L. Lenney Jr. Second World War correspondence (2016.003.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URL's, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence and other materials concerning Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF during the Second World War. Cpl. Lenney was a gunner on a B-24 bomber and after returning from a combat mission to Samarinda, Borneo on January 12, 1945, the bomber was reported missing in action, and later Cpl. Lenney and the crew were declared dead by the US War Department.
A majority of the collection consists of letters written by Cpl. Lenney to his family and friends. The other correspondence and documents concern Kin Seeking Missing Military Personnel, Inc., families of the bomber crew, and the arrangements for the bomber crew's funeral and burial.
Inventory:
  • 83 correspondence, personal 1943-1951
  • two correspondence photocopies, personal 1946
  • 2 postcards
  • 17 photographs
  • three bills (foreign currency)
  • six General Accounting Office
  • Claimant's Notice documents
  • one Application for Pension
  • one check copy
  • one War Department Pamphlet
  • one newsletter
  • one "Citation of Honor" certificate and folder
  • one hand-drawn chart
  • one matchbook cover
  • one illustration print
  • one set of dental X-rays
  • one flying school yearbook
  • one envelope
  • eight funeral documents
  • two photocopies of list "Ted's crew members

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Prisoners and prisons
Battle casualties
Peggy, Ms., Lenney

box WWII 26, folder 1-2

Series 1, Correspondence from Fred L. Lenney Jr. 1943 - 1945

Physical Description: .2 Linear feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence written by Cpl. Fred L. Lenney Jr., USAAF to his family during the Second World War. Lenney wrote about his daily routines, his military training, and inquiries about his family.
box WWII 26, folder 3

Series 2, Correspondence from U.S. War Department 1945 - 1948

Physical Description: .08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains letters from the US War Department to the parents of Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF parents regarding his missing in action status. The War Department later declared Cpl. Lenney killed in action, along with the rest of his bomber crew.
box WWII 26, folder 4-5

Series 3, Correspondence with Mabel Meurer 1946 - 1948

Physical Description: .08 Linear feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence to and from Mabel Meurer regarding the missing-in-action status of the B-24 bomber crew, of which Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF was a crew member. Meurer was directly involved with finding out what happened to Lenney and the rest of his crew. Meurer was an employee of Kin Seeking Missing Military Personnel, Inc., a company that assisted the families of missing servicemen in finding out what happened to the servicemen.
box WWII 26, folder 6

Series 4, Funeral Documents and Photographs 1949 - 1951

Physical Description: .08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains documents and photographs concerning the funeral and burial of the B-24 bomber crew, of which Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF was a crew member.
box WWII 26, folder 7

Series 5, Coleman Flying School Yearbook 1943

Physical Description: .08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains the Coleman Flying School yearbook of class 44-B. Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr. graduated from this class.
box WWII 26, folder 8

Series 6, Ephemera

Physical Description: .08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains several pieces of ephemera that were included with the collection. Items include three forms of currency, an Army Air Forces matchbook, and dental x-rays of the mother of Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF.
box WWII 26, folder 9

Series 7, Photographs

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains three photographs of Cpl. Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF The first photograph was taken when he was a child. The second and third photographs were taken while he was wearing his uniform.
box WWII 26, folder 10

Series 8, List "Ted's crew members"

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a photocopy and transcription of a document titled "Ted's crew members." This is a list of names of the B-24 bomber crew of which Cpl, Fred L. Lenney, Jr., USAAF was member, all of whom were killed in action. The list also includes the names of a family member for each crewman.