Lieutenant Colonel William L. Leverette

337Fighter Squadron, 14^th Fighter Group

P-38J Lighting  “Stingeree”

By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

William L. Leverette was born on September 5, 1913. He graduated form Clemson University with an engineering degree in 1934. That same year he joined the Army Reserves on September 20^th, as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and was promoted to Second Lieutenant on October 5, 1937.

He later transferred to the Air Corp and became an aviation cadet on July 5, 1939. He graduated from pilot training on March 23, 1940 as a new Second Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 31^st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan and then was assigned to the 53^rd and 338^th Pursuit Groups.

He was promoted to First Lieutenant on November 1, 1941, and then to Captain on February 1,1942.  He was then promoted to Major on January 21, 1943.  William was sent to North Africa with the 337^th Fighter Squadron, 14^th Fighter Group flying the P-38.

On October 9, 1943, Leverette was leading a flight of six Lightning’s when they were called to the defense of an English cruiser and destroyers were under attack by German Junkers Ju-88 and Ju-87 Stuka’s.

In a fifteen-minute melee Leverette and his fellow pilots downed seventeen German aircraft downing sixteen Stuka's and one Ju-88. Leverette was credited with seven of the Stuka's and two damaged.

On December 14, 1943 in an air battle northeast of Eleusis Airdrome, Leverette scored a Bf 109. After the first of the year he claimed a Bf-110 over Steyr on February 24, 1944 and another Bf-109 over Maniago Airdrome on March 18^th. His last aerial victory was another Bf-110 he downed fifty miles south of Fishamend on April 12, 1944.  He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on February 16, 1944 and was transferred back to the States.

Leverette remained in the Air Force after the war earning his masters degree in aeronautical earning from Princeton University in 1948. He was promoted to Colonel on June 1, 1952. He then commanded the 48^th Fighter Bomber Wing at Chaumont, France from June 1, to August 1, 1955 and retired from the Air Force in 1965.

Leverette was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories and two damaged. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with 19 Oak Leaf Clusters.

All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.

No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.

Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.

I do not mind sharing, just call or e-mail and ask for permission.

Sir. Ernie Hamilton Boyette

904-282-4198

e-mail: aviationartstore@peoplepc.com

Back to Aviator Stories

2-10-07