Benno Bruno Luckenbach & Family

Benno Bruno Luckenbach came to this world on 15 March 1883 in Albert, Gillespie County, TX (1). His parents were Julius Jakob Luckenbach and Klara Foerster. The mother's and the father's ancestors came to Texas with their immediate families in the 1840s.

Benno got married on 12 May 1910 (2). He was 27, his spouse Alma Lina Braeutigam was 22. She was born to Otto Heinrich Paul Braeutigam and Minna E Stoffers on 24 May 1888 in Fredericksburg, TX.

Benno was a farmer Anna was a homemaker. In 1930 during the Census they were registered in Precinct No.3 of Gillespie County, TX (3). Ten years later, the census gives a more precise address of Benno's family. The man, his wife, and children lived in Luckenbach, TX (4). The data also informs that Benno had completed 9 years and Alma 8 years of school education.

During WW1 Benno was registered by the Army. His draft registration card says that he was medium height, stout had blue eyes and dark hair (5).

He passed due to myocardial infection before his 79th birthday on 25 Feb. 1962. The man died in his house 15 miles SE of Fredericksburg, TX (6).

Clipping source: Davis, Jack R. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1962, newspaper, March 1, 1962; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866877/: accessed July 31, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.

Benno's wife Alma lived till 8 June 1979.

Benno and Alma had five children

Clara Anna Louise (b. 22 Dec. 1910, Fredericksburg, TX (7)

Alexander Jacob - b. 10 Oct. 1912 in Fredericksburg, TX (8)

Benno Felix - b. 29 Dec. 1914, Fredericksburg, TX (9)

Christine Minna - b. 17 Nov. 1916 (10)

Elgin Julius b. 14 Jan. 1921 (11).

Benno Felix was a ranchman, he went to the other side of life when he was 59, on 6 Feb. 1974. Clara, his older sister was the owner of the farm started in 1855, and inherited after their parents and grandparents. In the photograph taken at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas in 1974, you can see Clara Anna (second row, first from left).

Clipping source: Dietel, Norman J. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, November 15, 1974, newspaper, November 15, 1974; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1034989/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

Clara Anna joined her younger brother Benno Felix on the other side of life many years later on 4 August 2003 (12).

Christine Minna married Mr. Adolph Boerner on 24 Feb. 1937 (13).

The broom's parents were Karl and Grethen Boerner. Adolph was a farmer and rancher. He and Christine had one daughter Genevieve Ellen.

Alexander Jacob was enlisted during WW2 (on 9 June 1942). At that time he worked as a stock clerk. He had completed four years of high school and was a single man without dependants. Alexander's serial number was 10106006 (14).

Corporal Alex J. Luckenbach was called by his fellow servicemen "Lucky". He served in an engineer aviation battalion and was part of the survey crew. The battalion built and maintained bomber and fighter airfields in Italy and Libya (15).

Elgin Julius started his primary education at a country school in Luckenbach. He graduated from High School in 1938. Then, the young man attended Drauhgouns Business College in San Antonio and later worked at Duncan Field.

Elgin J Luckenbach voluntarily joined the Air Force and was enlisted to the Army on 9 June 1942. He did his training at Fort Sam Houston, Sheppard Field, Santa Monica, CA; Las Vegas, Nevada and Greenville, SC.

Next, he left Hamilton field, CA on 22 July 1943 for the overseas service. After a few-day stop in Hawaii, he sailed to Australia and then the Nedzab in New Guinea.

In 1943 young Elgin served at 22nd Bombardment Group Medium. Later (1943-44), he was part of the 408th Bombardment Squadron.

Staff Sergeant Elgin J. Luckenbach was an engineer and a gunner. He had completed at least 35 successful missions before his last flight came on B-24J Liberator (16).

After the bombing mission at Hollandia (New Guinea), the crew of the plane flew toward the base at Nadzab Airport. Soon, due to bad weather, their Liberator crashed. Lucky and other crew members were reported missing on 16 April 1944.

Clipping source: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 5, 1944, newspaper, May 5, 1944; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135446/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

Here you can see Elgin's honorable death certificate.

The crew members of the B-24J Liberator were declared dead on 26 Feb. 1946. 
Their names are listed on tablets at Manila American Cemetery.
Elgin's name is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery.

Elgin J "Lucky" Luckenbach was awarded

in 1944
Purple Heart Medal,
the Air Medal,
American Campaign Medal,
Army Good Conduct Medal,
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal,

in 1945
WWII Victory Medal (17).

In 2002 the remains of the plane and the crew were found by a local New Guinea man. After a long time, Elgin finally came back home to his parents in Fredericksburg, TX (18).

Resources:

1. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LC7-LYT2 : 14 February 2020), Benno B. Luckenbach,

2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9PVT : 22 December 2016), Benno B. Luckenbach and Alma Braeutigam, 12 May 1910; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,803.

3. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HY9F-TW2: accessed 26 July 2020), Buno Luckenbach, Precinct 3, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 5A, line 29, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2335; FHL microfilm 2,342,069.

4."United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWV2-4GR : 29 February 2020), Benno B Luckenbach, Luckenbach, Justice Precinct 3, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 86-5, sheet 6B, line 77, family 127, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4040.

5. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-KLG : 24 August 2019), Benno Bruno Luckenbach, 1917-1918.

6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3X8-2D9 : 13 March 2018), Benno Bruno Luckenbach, 25 Feb 1962; citing certificate number 08772, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,932. 

7. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZN-BW4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Clara Anna Louise Luckenbach, 22 Dec 1910; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,112,476.

8. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2BZ-GF3 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Alexander Jacob Luckenbach, 10 Oct 1912; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 35674, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,129,206.

9. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6P9-S2X : 13 February 2020), Benno B. Luckenbach in entry for Benno Felix Luckenbach, 1914.

10. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TM-VV4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Christine Minna Luckenbach, 17 Nov 1916; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 45340, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,092.

11. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TM-VV4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Christine Minna Luckenbach, 17 Nov 1916; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 45340, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,092.

12. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V38B-GQ9 : 22 July 2020), Clara Luckenbach, 04 Aug 2003; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).7. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935,"

13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-DM9F : 10 December 2017), Adolph Boerner and Christine Ninna Luckenbach, 24 Feb 1937; citing Marriage, citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,764,046.

14. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LH-RZ6 : 5 December 2014), Alexander J Luckenbach, enlisted 09 Jun 1942, San Antonio, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland. 

15. Veterans of Gillespie County

16. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, March 22, 1946, newspaper, March 22, 1946; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135243/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library. 

17. Together We Served

18.  Pacific Wrecks