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William H. Leininger (1894 - 1991) enlisted in the Air Service at Ft. Sill on June 4, 1917. Leininger was the Post Sergeant of the 21st Squadron until his transfer to the Cadet School at the University of Illinois. After graduating from Cadet School, Leininger was first transferred to Kelly Field for flying instructions and then to the 3rd Aviation Training Center at Issoudun, France. Leininger was ordered to the Front with the 9th Aero Squadron where he performed both day and night reconnaissance flights. After the Armistice, Leininger was assigned Squadron Leader for the 166th. In 1919, he was relieved of that command and returned to the United States. After the war, Leininger remained interested in aviation matters, but he did not pursue work in the aviation field.

 Identifier

NASM.1994.0025

Creator

Leininger, William H., 1894-1991

Date

1917-1926

Provenance

Jane Coates, gift, transferred to Archives in 1993, 1994-0025, NASM

Extent

1.59 Cubic feet ((1 records center box) (1 flatbox))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the following material documenting Leininger's World War I career: letters to his family, 1917-1919; a scrapbook containing photographs from his World War I experiences; a 1917 diary; orders and military papers; and his autobiography: 'The Restless Eagle.'

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

World War, 1914-1918

Aeronautics

Aeronautics, Military

Aerial reconnaissance

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Publications