Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/vhp.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2015655440
In English.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
Arranged in four series: Sound Recordings, Computer Files, Manuscripts, and Photographs.
Manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by type of material with oversize items located at the end of the collection. The correspondence is divided into six parts: Letters from the veteran to his family, 1943-1955 (MS03); Letters to the veteran from his family, 1939-1945 (MS04); Letters to the veteran from friends, 1945 (MS05); Letters exchanged by family members of men missing in action (MIA) or held as prisoners of war (POW), 1944-1945 (MS06); Letters from the military to the Kovar family, 1943-1945 (MS07); Letters from friends to the Kovar family, 1944-1945 (MS08).
Accessioned, 2004.
Leonard John Kovar Collection (AFC/2001/001/46772), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.46772
Duplication of collection materials may be restricted.
Collection is open for research; access restrictions apply. To request collection materials, please contact the Veterans History Project at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/vhp.contact
Selected items from the Leonard John Kovar collection are available on the Library of Congress web site at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.33917/.
Leonard John Kovar Collection (AFC/2001/001/33917), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Leonard John Kovar was born in 1922, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940, and was attending Macalester College at the outset of World War II. With what he describes as "mediocre grades," Kovar decided to leave school and enlist 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 continue his training. Kovar “washed out” of pilot training in May 1943, and 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 Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, stationed in Italy. On August 22, 1944, while flying their eleventh mission, Kovar and his crew were shot down by enemy fire, prior to reaching their target in Vienna, Austria. Kovar successfully ejected from the plane, but was later picked up by Hungarian civilians who turned him over to German soldiers. Kovar was held as a prisoner of war (POW) at Stalag Luft III, and later Stalag VII-A, until April 1945, when his 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 United States in the summer of 1945, and after taking leave at home in Minnesota, he returned to active duty to await orders for the Pacific Theater. These orders never materialized and when the war ended, Kovar was honorably discharged with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
During his time in the service, Kovar resolved to go back to school and upon his return to civilian life he accomplished this goal, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and psychology from Macalester College. He then attended Andover Newton Theological School, and was ordained as a minister in 1952. He and his wife, Lorraine, lived in Hardin, Montana, where he presided over the First Congregational Church.
This collection spans the years 1922-2003, with the bulk of the material dating from 1943 to 1945. The collection contains audio recordings, civilian papers, clippings, correspondence, creative works, a diary, military papers, mixed manuscripts, mixed periodicals, regimental/unit histories, a transcript, and photographs.
The audio recordings include an oral history interview detailing Kovar’s training, first missions, being shot down, attempting to evade capture, capture by Hungarian civilians, interrogation by a German officer, transport to Stalag III, food in prisoner of war (POW) camps, marching to a new camp, liberation, the end of the war, returning to the United States, and his post-war education and career. Also included are three audio discs containing a message from Kovar to his friend Lloyd, and songs sung by a group for Kovar’s wife, Lorraine.
The majority of this collection consists of correspondence. While on active duty, Leonard Kovar wrote to his family frequently. These letters are primarily addressed to his father, Emil, his mother, Verna, and his sister, Shirley (nicknamed “Suk”). Kovar makes frequent inquiries about a much younger brother, Larry. Also, a younger sister, Susan, was born on the day Kovar’s plane was shot down, August 22, 1944. Prior to Susan’s birth, Kovar asks often about his mother’s condition and general health. In addition to inquiries about the home front, Kovar describes his training experiences, his expenses and need for money from home, and his thoughts about entering the war. After his capture in 1944, Kovar continued to send letters home. These are necessarily less detailed as they were subject to German censorship. There is also a sizable collection of correspondence from Kovar and his wife, Lorraine, sent to Kovar’s parents from 1953-1955. These describe life their life in Hardin, Montana, including details about the couple’s son, Timmy, born in 1953.
Complementing the correspondence sent by Leonard Kovar is that sent by his family. His parents and older sister sent letters to him while he was a POW, and they also corresponded with the families of the other members of Kovar’s crew. This correspondence helped establish a support and information network for these POW/MIA families. Additional POW/MIA-related materials in this collection include newsletters, official information sent to family members, instructions on how to send packages to prisoners, and information about local gatherings for families of POW/MIA soldiers.
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2015655440
SR01: Topics covered include: training; first missions; being shot down; attempting to evade capture; captured by Hungarian civilians; turned over to Germans; interrogation; transport to Stalag III; food in prisoner of war (POW) camp; moving to new camp; liberation; end of war; returning home; post-war education and career.
Digital content available
SR02: Record containing a recording of the song "Happy Birthday," sung by a group for the veteran's wife, Lorraine.
Digital content available
SR03: Record containing a recording of the song "Oh My Darling, Clementine," sung by a group for the veteran's wife, Lorraine.
Digital content available
SR04: Record made by veteran during service with personal message to his friend Lloyd.
CF01: Electronic copy of interview transcript (print version is MS16).
MS01: Baptism record, school report cards, Veterans Administration life insurance paperwork, high school yearbook.
MS02: Clippings about units veteran served with, includes articles from Minneapolis newspapers about veteran's capture as a prisoner of war (POW) and eventual return.
MS03: Letters from the veteran to his family. Topics covered include: veteran's reaction to "washing out" of flight school (06/02/1943); veteran thanking his father for the gift of a hand-crafted knife he later used after being shot down; expressions of veteran's strong religious feelings; letters home from Stalag Luft III prison camp.
MS03 continued
MS03 continued
MS04: Letters to the veteran from his family written while he was a prisoner in Stalag Luft III prison camp.
MS05: Letters to the veteran from friends.
MS06: Letters between veteran's family and the families of other POW/MIA soldiers.
MS06 continued
MS07: Official military letters to veteran.
MS08: Letters from the veteran's friends to his family.
MS09: "I Was There," story about veteran's wartime experiences written by his mother, Verna Kovar, while he was on leave after being liberated from prison camp; includes a brief foreword by veteran.
MS10: Copy of a pencil drawing of veteran.
MS11: Veteran's diary 07/23/1944 - 08/17/1944.
MS12: Includes invitation to bombardier training graduation ceremony, list of names, personal affairs checklists, official personnel documents, training and expense reports.
MS13: POW/MIA related papers including newsletters, official information sent to family members, instructions on how to send packages to prisoners, information about local gatherings for families of POW/MIA soldiers.
MS14: Various personal papers including Stamford Flying School newsletter, church mailing from First Congregational Church in Hardin, Montana.
MS14: "Roosevelt Standard," Roosevelt High School newspaper.
MS15: Brochure on San Angelo Army Air Field Bombardier School; Silhouette Handbook of US Army Air Forces Airplanes.
MS15: "The Shack," 43-15 DR and 44-1 DR, training yearbook.
MS16: Transcript of interview SR01.
PH01-PH59: Images of Kovar and his crew, friends, published photographs with captions, family photographs.
MS03: Letters written while the veteran was a prisoner of war (POW).
MS04: Letters to the veteran from his family written while he was a prisoner in Stalag Luft III prison camp.
MS05: Letters to the veteran from friends.
MS06: Letters between veteran's family and the families of other POW/MIA soldiers.
MS10: Original pencil drawing of veteran, artist unknown.
MS12: Includes invitation to bombardier training graduation ceremony, list of names, personal affairs checklists, official personnel documents, training and expense reports.
MS13: POW/MIA related papers including newsletters, official information sent to family members, instructions on how to send packages to prisoners, information about local gatherings for families of POW/MIA soldiers.