Leland Keith Lukens of Camden, South Carolina | 1932 – 2022 | Obituary

A memorial service for Leland Keith Lukens, 90, will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 29, 2022 at Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church, Dr. Gene Rollins will officiate.

The family of Brigadier General Leland Keith Lukens wishes to announce his passing on August 24, 2022. He was the son of Arlis Wayne Lukens and Frieda Maebelle Kizer Lukens.

General Lukens was born in 1932, in Carthage, Indiana. He earned an associate degree in engineering construction, a bachelor’s degree in general education and a master’s degree in political science. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College.

The general enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an airman basic in1953 and was awarded the American Spirit of Honor Medal. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1955.

He was a member of the 53rd Fighter Day Squadron, Bitburg Air Base, Germany, where he flew F-86Fs and F-100s. He transferred with the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron to Ramstein Air Base, Germany where he flew F-100C’s for three more years.

In 1964, he volunteered for a tour of duty in Southeast Asia and received training in A-1E Skyraiders. He was then assigned to the 1st Air Commando Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he flew 272 combat missions.

From 1966 to 1968, General Lukens was assigned to the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain, flying F-100D’s.

From 1969 to 1972, he was a member of the 9th Air Force Inspector General Team at Shaw Air Force Base, SC., where he inspected Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units in the eastern United States.

In September 1972, he again volunteered for a tour of duty in Southeast Asia. He was assigned as the operations officer, then squadron commander of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. General Lukens flew another 88 combat missions in F-4D and E Phantom IIs, completing the last two months of his assignment as assistant deputy commander for operations of the 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing.

From January 1974 to March 1975, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Tactical Plans Division, Ramstein Air Base.

In March 1975, he became deputy commander for resource management for the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England, and in February 1976 become deputy commander for operations.

In 1976, General Lukens joined the command’s inspector general team. He was operations and safety inspection division chief until May 1977. He then became director of inspection and operational readiness inspection team chief.

General Lukens moved to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in 1978 where he commanded the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing.

In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

General Lukens’ last assignment was Director of Aerospace Safety, Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, California where he had worldwide responsibility for development and implementation of policies, standards and procedures for all Air Force safety except nuclear.

The general was a command pilot with more than 5,400 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

General Lukens retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1982 and he and his wife Helen moved back to their home on Lake Wateree in Camden, SC where he lived for the next 40 years of his life.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Helen Anna Stilwell Lukens; his three daughters Lee Ann Parker (Sampson), Lorikay Nunn (Donnie), and Sheri Lou Few (Marty); his nine grandchildren Tiffany Watson (Anna), Luke Watson (Faith), Sampson Parker Jr. (Meredith), Austin Beam, Chad Beam (Kayla), Chip Few (Bonnie), Billy Few (Ashby), Jesse Few, Bobby Few (April), and seven great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister Joan Loter, brother Stephen Lukens, and 2 great grandchildren.

SERVICES

Memorial Service
Monday, August 29, 2022
11:00 AMLiberty Hill Presbyterian Church
11 Meeting Lane
Liberty Hill, SC 29175