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Leonard Kovar in flight suit at time of service

Veterans History Project Service Summary:

  • War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
  • Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
  • Unit of Service: 727th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force
  • Location of Service: San Antonio, Texas; Stamford, Texas; San Angelo, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona; Italy; Stalag Luft III, Germany; Miami Beach, Florida
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/33917

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Phonograph recorded message (side one) "To Lloyd, Don't play in mixed company. Len" [9/5/1945]

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Phonograph recorded message (side two) "To Lloyd, Don't play in mixed company. Len"

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Phonograph recorded message (side one) "For Lorraine, Two [?] and a Peep"

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Phonograph recorded message (side two) "For Lorraine"

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Phonograph recorded message (test) "For Lorraine"

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Leonard John Kovar Collection
Audio Interview

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Show more resources (370)

[ Unit History: "The Shack: 43-15 DR" ]
[ Unit History: "The Shack: 44-1 DR" ]
[ Letter from the Army to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [1/26/1943] ]
[ Letter from the POW Information Bureau [1/9/1945] ]
[ Letter from the Army Air Forces Headquarters in Washington to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [2/26/1945] ]
[ Letter from Army finance department to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [3/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from the Army and a copy of the Congressional Record [4/12/1945] ]
[ Letter from the War Information Bureau to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [4/19/1945] ]
[ Memo from the American Red Cross about what to include in packages for Prisoners of War [8/1944] ]
[ Memo, "How American Red Cross Aids Prisoners of War" [11/1944] ]
[ Letter to the next of kin of American POWs from the Army Service Forces [4/1945] ]
[ Silhouette Handbook of United States Army Air Forces Airplanes ]
[ Letter to "Family" [1/4/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/6/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks," including cartoon drawn by Kovar depicting barracks life [1/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/9/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/10/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/12/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/14/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/15/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/19/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/20/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/22/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/26/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/27/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/1/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/3/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/4/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/6/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks", with clipped postage stamps for stamp collection [2/9/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks", with drawing depicting an Air Corps cadet entering a training facility overshadowed by buzzards [2/15/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/19/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/20/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/21/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/25/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [2/28/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks", includes blank 1040 A tax form for 1942 [3/2/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/14/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/20/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/27/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/1/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/3/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/20/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/23/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/26/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/28/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/30/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/1/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/3/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/24/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/27/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/30/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/2/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/5/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/8/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/9/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/14/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/20/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/28/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [7/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [7/19/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [7/26/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [7/29/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/1/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/5/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/8/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/9/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/13/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/22/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [8/29/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [9/1/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [9/10/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [9/13/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [9/18/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [9/27/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/4/1943] ]
[ Loose postage stamps clipped from envelopes and enclosed with letter of 10/4/1943 ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/11/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/25/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [10/29/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [11/17/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [11/28/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [12/7/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [12/19/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [12/24/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [12/31/1943] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [1/2/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/10/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/24/1944] ]
[ Telegram from Kovar to his parents [3/24/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [3/25/1944] ]
[ Postcard from Kovar to parents [3/28/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/9/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/17/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/21/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [4/25/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/1/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/4/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/8/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/10/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/17/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/26/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [5/29/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/6/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/6/1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/17/1944] ]
[ Telegram to Emil F. Kovar requesting money [6/19/1944 ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/26/1944] ]
[ V-Mail to family [July 1944] ]
[ V-Mail to family [July 25, 1944] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [6/29/1944] ]
[ V-Mail to Folks [8/1944 ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/1/1944] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/7/1944] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/9/1944] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/16/1944] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/19/1944] ]
[ Postcard to Kovar's family written from POW camp [9/10/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [9/29/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [10/16/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [10/29/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [11/7/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [11/17/1944] ]
[ Postcard to Kovar's family written from POW camp [11/26/1944] ]
[ Postcard to Kovar's family written from POW camp [11/30/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [12/27/1944] ]
[ Postcard to Kovar's family written from POW camp [12/31/1944] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [1/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [2/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [4/30/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Emil J. Kovar [5/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [7/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Folks [8/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Kovar's family written from POW camp [n.d.] ]
[ Letter to Folks from Lorraine Kovar [3/24/1953] ]
[ Typewritten letter to Folks from Len and Lorraine Kovar [4/3/1953] ]
[ Typewritten letter to Folks from Len and Lorraine Kovar [4/18/1953] ]
[ Typewritten letter to Folks from Len and Lorraine Kovar [6/24/1953] ]
[ Postcard of "West Boulder River", Montana, from Len Kovar to family [7/13/1953] ]
[ Letter from Lorainne Kovar to family [7/12/1953] ]
[ Letter from Lorainne Kovar to family [7/22/1953] ]
[ Letter from Lorainne Kovar to family [11/18/1953] ]
[ Letter from Lorainne Kovar to family [7/29/1953] ]
[ Typewritten letter to family from Lorraine and Len Kovar [12/1953] ]
[ Two postcards from Len and Lorraine Kovar to family [12/19/1953] ]
[ Letter from Lorainne and Len Kovar to family [12/30/1953] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [12/30/1953] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [12/30/1953] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [1/17/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [1/19/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [3/27/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [3/31/1954] ]
[ Mother's Day Card from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar [May 1954] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [5/22/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len, Lorraine, and Timmy Kovar to family [5/30/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len Kovar to "Folks" [6/7/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len Kovar to "Folks" [6/15/1954] ]
[ Pamphlett, "Family Camp at Mimanagish" [7/1954] ]
[ Letter from Len Kovar to "Folks" [6/26/1954] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [12/4/1944] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [12/10/1944] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [12/17/1944] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [12/26/1944] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [12/31/1944] ]
[ Letter from Shirley Kovar to Leonard Kovar, composed on POW post stationary [1/6/1945] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [1/6/1945] ]
[ Letter from Emil J. Kovar to son Leonard, composed on POW post stationary [1/9/1945] ]
[ Letter from Shirley Kovar to Leonard Kovar, composed on POW post stationary [1/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from his mother, composed on POW post stationary [2/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from his mother, composed on POW post stationary [2/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from his mother, composed on POW post stationary [2/23/1945] ]
[ Letter from Shirley Kovar to Leonard Kovar, composed on POW post stationary [3/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from his mother, composed on POW post stationary [4/25/1945] ]
[ Handwritten and typewritten letters from Mr. and Mrs. Kovar to their son, Leonard [8/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. John Coskran to Leonard Kovar, composed on POW post stationary [2/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar from unidentified writer [7/28/1944] ]
[ Letter from Leonard Kovar to Folks [9/5/1954] ]
[ Letter from Rev. Leonard J. Kovar to his congregation, including a copy of a sermon [9/20/1954] ]
[ Letter from Leonard Kovar to Folks [9/21/1954] ]
[ Letter from Leonard Kovar to Folks [10/8/1954] ]
[ Postcard from the Kovars to Folks [2/21/1955] ]
[ Letter from Leonard Kovar to Folks [2/25/1955] ]
[ Letter from Lorraine Kovar to Folks [3/1955] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Kovar, Leonard's mother [7/25/1939] ]
[ Letter from "Pappy" to Leonard Kovar [5/1/1944] ]
[ V-mail from Mama to Leonard Kovar [8/3/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/8/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mama to Leonard Kovar [8/15/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/18/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/18/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mama to Leonard Kovar [8/19/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/22/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/29/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [8/30/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from "Pop" to Leonard Kovar [9/7/1944] ]
[ Letters from "Pop" and Mama to Leonard Kovar [9/18/1944] ]
[ Letters from "Pop" and "Suk" [11/17/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mama to Leonard Kovar [3/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from "Suk" [8/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from "Pop" [8/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from Pvt. L. [Lloyd] C. Harwell to Leonard Kovar [12/5/1942] ]
[ Letter from Pvt. L. [Lloyd] C. Harwell to Leonard Kovar [12/28/1942] ]
[ V-Mail from Leonard Kovar to "Folks" [7/18/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Leonard Kovar to "Folks" [7/20/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Leonard Kovar to "Folks" [7/23/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Leonard Kovar to "Folks" [7/26/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Leonard Kovar to "Folks" [7/27/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from George W. Loumman [?] to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [11/4/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [11/2/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [1/5/1945] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar, "Saipan" [8/8/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar, "Saipan" [8/18/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar, "In the Marianas" [11/30/1944] ]
[ V-Mail from Pvt. Erwin W. Hamilton to Leonard Kovar [7/27/1944] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from Norma Beyer [7/30/1944 ]
[ Letter from Pvt. L. [Lloyd] C. Harwell to Leonard Kovar [8/8/1944] ]
[ Letter from John T. Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [8/15/1944] ]
[ Easter greating card from "Mom Coakran" [?] to Leonard Kovar [1945] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Loach to Leonard Kovar [5/29/1945] ]
[ Telegram from "Bart" to Leonard Kovar [6/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Bill" to Leonard Kovar [6/5/1945] ]
[ Letter from Betty Alexander to Leonard Kovar [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter from Joseph A. Pastouck [?] to Leonard Kovar [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter from John Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from Carl Nagell to Leonard Kovar [6/16/1945] ]
[ Letter from John Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Bill" to Leonard Kovar [6/22/1945] ]
[ Letter from R. W. Petersen [?] to Leonard Kovar [7/1.1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from "Reue" [?] [8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Leonard Kovar from several different writers [8/22/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. John J. Roach, Sr. to Leonard Kovar [9/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from John Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [10/9/1945] ]
[ Letter from Pvt. L. [Lloyd] C. Harwell to Leonard Kovar [10/15/1945] ]
[ Letter from John Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [10/16/1945] ]
[ Letter from Pvt. L. [Lloyd] C. Harwell to Leonard Kovar [10/31/1945] ]
[ Greeting card from Harold Van Every [12/1945] ]
[ Letter from John Coakran [?] to Leonard Kovar [12/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Tommye Ash to Mrs. Kovar [7/1944] ]
[ Letter from Dorothy Gould, mother of Francis Gould, to Mrs. Kovar [7/25/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mr. and Mrs. John Roach to Mrs. Kovar [7/25/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Joan Scheible to Mrs. Kovar [7/31/1944] ]
[ Letter from "C. Lynch" to Mrs. Kovar [9/1944] ]
[ Letter from "C. Lynch" to Mrs. Kovar [9/1944] ]
[ Letter from "J. A. Ash" to Mrs. Kovar [9/10/1944] ]
[ Letter from "C. Lynch" to Mrs. Kovar [9/11/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. E. S. Thornton to Mrs. Kovar [9/11/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. William Scheible, Jr. to Mrs. Kovar [9/11/1944] ]
[ Letter from Fairy Mai Gockmeyer [?] [9/11/1944] ]
[ Letter from Dorothy Gould, mother of Francis Gould, to Mrs. Kovar [9/14/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Margaret Roach Herington [?] to Mrs. Kovar [ 9/15/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mr. and Mrs. John Roach to Mrs. Kovar [9/24/1944] ]
[ Letter from "J. A. Ash" to Mrs. Kovar [9/27/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bray to Mrs. Kovar [10/27/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Roach to Mrs. Kovar [10/29/1944] ]
[ Letter from "J. A. Ash" to Mrs. Kovar [11/7/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bray to Mrs. Kovar [11/8/1944] ]
[ Letter from Roger Gladhill to Mrs. Kovar [11/19/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. William Scheible, Jr. to Mrs. Kovar [11/20/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Aron Brittian [?] to Mrs. Kovar [11/26/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Warren Ash to Mrs. Kovar [12/5/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. William Scheible, Jr. to Mrs. Kovar [12/6/1944] ]
[ Letter from Tommye Ash to Mrs. Kovar [12/23/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Joan Scheible to Mrs. Kovar [12/29/1944] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Roach to Mrs. Kovar [1/1/1945] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Roach to Mrs. Kovar [1/12/1945] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Roach to Mrs. Kovar [1/15/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Joan Scheible to Mrs. Kovar [1/16/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Joan Scheible to Mrs. Kovar [1/24/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mrs. Roach, Jr." to Mrs. Kovar [2/1945] ]
[ Postcard from unknown recipient [2/1945] ]
[ Letter from unknown recipient [2/18/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Joan Scheible to Mrs. Kovar [2/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mrs. Thornton" [badly water damaged] [3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Ash to Mrs. Kovar [4/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Thornton to Mrs. Kovar [4/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "C. Lynch" to "Friends" [badly water damaged] ]
[ Letter from "Mrs. Lynch" to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [5/2/1945] ]
[ Letter from James Jensen to Mrs. Kovar [5/12/1945] ]
[ Letter from Lucille Bray to Mrs. Kovar [5/29/1945] ]
[ Water-damaged letter from Mrs. Thornton to Mrs. Kovar [6/3/1945] ]
[ Postcard from Mrs. Thornton to "Folks" [6/6/1945] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Roach to Mrs. Kovar [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter from Charlotte Roach to Mrs. Kovar [6/8/1945] ]
[ V-mail to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [8/2/1944] ]
[ Letter to the Kovars from William Beczcalo [9/16/1944] ]
[ Letter from William Beczkalo to the Kovars [10/8/1944] ]
[ V-mail to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [11/7/1944] ]
[ V-mail to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [11/17/1944] ]
[ Letter from William Beczkalo to the Kovars [11/27/1944] ]
[ Christmas card from William Beczkalo to the Kovars [12/1944] ]
[ Postcard from William K. Bonner [?] to the Kovars [12/1944] ]
[ Letter from William Beczkalo to the Kovars [12/6/1944] ]
[ Letter from George Louman [?] to the Kovars [12/23/1944] ]
[ Letter from Roger Gladhill to the Kovars [ 12/27/1944] ]
[ Letter from William Beczkalo to the Kovars [12/20/1944] ]
[ Letter from Mrs. Dorothy Jacobson to the Kovars [1/4/1945] ]
[ V-mail to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [3/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [2/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to the Kovars from unknown writer [4/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to the Kovars from unknown writer [4/19/1945] ]
[ Letter from Lloyd Harwell to the Kovars [5/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to the Kovars from Erwin or Ervin Hamilton [6/19/1945] ]
[ Letter from J. R. Riley of the National Bushing and Parts Co. to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [9/5/1944] ]
[ Letter from J. R. Riley of the National Bushing and Parts Co. to Mr. and Mrs. Kovar [6/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to "Folks" [July 22, 1943] from Len Kovar ]
[ Original pencil drawing of veteran signed by artist. "Italy, 1944". ]
[ Church program included with letter of 6/24/1953 ]
[ Church program included with letter of 7/22/1953 ]
[ Church program included with letter of 7/29/1953 ]
[ Church bulletin, "Congregational Montana" [June 1954] ]
[ Church bulletin, "The Bell" [June, July, August 1954] ]
[ Church bulletin, "Congregational Montana" [May 1954] ]
[ One page of a 12 page letter or report detailing a forced march of POWs from one POW camp to another in winter 1945 ]
[ Camp newsletter, "Stamford Flying School Flight Line" [5/26/1943] ]
[ Church Bulletin, "The Bell" [March 1955] ]
[ High school newspaper, "Roosevelt Standard," [May 29, 1945] ]
[ Birthday card from "Aunt Mildred" [1924] ]
[ Baptism card [1937] ]
[ School report cards for Leonard Kovar ]
[ High school graduation commencement invitation [1940] ]
[ Macalester College Commencement Dance card ]
[ College report card ]
[ Life insurance premium receipt ]
[ Chain letter from "The Towel Club" ]
[ Drawing from a child ]
[ Short story by Verna Kovar, Leonard's mother, written in 1945 ]
[ Note card from the American War Dads, Minneapolis Chapter [10/1944] ]
[ Program from a "meeting of relatives of Prisoner of War , Nicollet Hotel" [11/12/1944] ]
[ Two tickets to a "meeting of relatives of Prisoner of War , Saint Paul Auditorium" [2/17/1945] ]
[ Prisoner of War Bulletin [3/1945] ]
[ Prisoner of War Bulletin [4/1945] ]
[ Prisoner of War Bulletin [5/1945] ]
[ Prisoner of War Bulletin [6/1945] ]
[ Notecard with notes from a meeting of relatives of Prisoners of War [n.d.] ]
[ Notecard with notes from a meeting of relatives of Prisoners of War [n.d.] ]
[ Mailing label for POW packages ]
[ Tobacco voucher and POW parcel mailing instructions ]
[ Page from a POW bulletin with German prison camp locations ]
[ Assorted envelopes and clippings ]
[ Newsclipping, "Bombardier is home from German prison" [n.d.] ]
[ Assorted newsclippings ]
[ News circulator [n.d.] ]
[ Radio program transcript ]
[ Note written by Ed Kovar ]
[ Booklet, "San Angelo Army Air Field Bombardier School." ]

About this Item

Title

  • Leonard John Kovar Collection

Names

  • Cross, Coy F.
  • Kovar, Leonard John
  • Beale Air Force Base

Home State

  • California

Headings

  • -  Kovar, Leonard John
  • -  World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
  • -  United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
  • -  Prisoner of War -- United States

Repository

  • Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Gender

  • Male

Race

  • White

Status

  • veteran

Service History

  • World War, 1939-1945

    • Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
    • Unit of Service: 727th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force
    • Location of Service: San Antonio, Texas; Stamford, Texas; San Angelo, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona; Italy; Stalag Luft III, Germany; Miami Beach, Florida
    • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
    • Dates of Service: 1943-1945
    • Prisoner of War: Yes
    • Entrance into Service: Enlisted
    • Military Status: veteran
    • Service History Note: Leonard John Kovar was born on 10/24/1922 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940 and was in college at the outset of World War II. With what he describes as "mediocre grades," Kovar decided to leave school and enlist in the military. He entered active duty in the Army Air Forces in 1943. Kovar was selected for pilot training at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center (SAACC), Texas. He successfully completed pre-flight training in San Antonio and was then sent to the Stamford Flying School, Texas, to complete his training. Kovar "washed out" out of pilot training in 05/1943, but was reclassified as a bombardier. He was reassigned to SAACC before moving on to bombardier training at San Angelo Army Air Field, Texas. Kovar completed additional training with his crew at Davis-Monthan Field in Tucson, Arizona, before being sent overseas in the summer of 1944. Kovar and his crew were assigned to the 727th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, in Italy. Their 11th mission was on 08/22/1944 and their target was in Vienna, Austria. Before reaching the target, their plane was shot down by enemy fire. Kovar successfully ejected from the plane, but was later picked up by Hungarian civilians who turned him over to German soldiers. Kovar was a prisoner in Stalag Luft 3 until 04/1945 when the camp was liberated by General Patton's forces. During his time as a POW, Kovar was able to correspond with his family at home. He returned to the States in the summer of 1945 and, after taking leave at home Minnesota, he was sent to Florida where he awaited orders for the Pacific Theater. These orders never materialized and, when the war ended, Kovar was honorably discharged. During his time in the service, Kovar resolved to go back to school and, upon his return to civilian life, he accomplished this goal. He attended seminary and was ordained a minister. He and his wife, Lorraine, lived in Hardin, Montana, where he presided over the First Congregational Church.

Materials

  • Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-11-13)
  • Audio: Audio Disc [3 items] -- Audio correspondence (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Civilian papers (certificates, forms, wills, etc) [ item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [ item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [183 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1943-1955)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [32 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1939-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [25 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [47 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1944-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [6 items] -- (collected 1943-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [17 items] -- (collected 1944-1945)
  • Manuscript: Creative works [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945-06)
  • Manuscript: Creative works [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Handwritten document (collected 1944)
  • Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [ item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1943-1945)
  • Manuscript: Mixed (Multiple types of manuscripts) [ item] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Periodicals [3 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1943-1955)
  • Manuscript: Unit histories [3 items] -- (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
  • Photograph: Original photographic print [59 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
  • Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2003; 2003-12-03)

Collection Number

  • AFC/2001/001/33917

Cite as

  • Leonard John Kovar Collection (AFC/2001/001/33917), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Online Format

  • audio
  • image
  • online text

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

Using VHP Material in Publication or Exhibition

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. The Veterans History Project Collection includes oral histories along with documentary materials such as original letters, diaries, photographs, and memoirs.

Veterans and interviewers contribute these materials to the Library for scholarly and educational purposes, retaining any copyright they may hold. Therefore, permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact the Veterans History Project for assistance.

As a publicly supported institution, the Library generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item from the Library’s collections and for securing any necessary permissions rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Please contact us with questions.

Obtaining Copies of VHP Materials

In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission.

Please contact VHP for assistance if you need to contact a veteran for permission to use their materials in exhibition or publication, or if you have received permission from the veteran and need access to high-resolution copies of VHP collection materials.

Citing VHP Materials

Please use the following formats when citing Veterans History Project materials (substituting the appropriate name and collection ID number).

Materials as a whole:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Manuscript material:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Memoirs (MS02), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Transcript (MS04), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Correspondence (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Recording:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Audio recording (SR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Video recording (MV01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Photograph:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH01), photographer unknown, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH03-PH14), Ralph Williams photographer, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Computer file:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Computer file (CF01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Artifact:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Cross, Coy F, Leonard John Kovar, and Beale Air Force Base. Leonard John Kovar Collection. 1943. Personal Narrative. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.33917/.

APA citation style:

Cross, C. F., Kovar, L. J. & Beale Air Force Base. (1943) Leonard John Kovar Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.33917/.

MLA citation style:

Cross, Coy F, Leonard John Kovar, and Beale Air Force Base. Leonard John Kovar Collection. 1943. Personal Narrative. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.33917/>.