Memorial

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2nd Lt Walter L. Hester attended Brownwood High School and worked in a local grocery. The family moved to California where Lt Hester was employed for a year and a half by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank. He completed training at the two engined school at George Field, Lawrenceville, Ill., on Dec 5, 1943. Flying schools he attended are Dorr Field, Fla., and Gunter Field, Ala.

The death of Lt Hester has been discribed by his buddy. The latter was a top gunner on the Flying Fortress, the "Sweet L. O. Ease", on which Lt Hester was pilot. The squadron was on their thirteenth mission to Germany. One of the planes, having been hit by flack, collided with Hester's, knocking the tail. When the buddy left the ship at 17,000 feet, the pilot was still in his seat. The gunner escaped through the underground in France. Some of the French people that he met told him that they had buried the crew in the church yard in a town named Er. Seven of the crew were reported killed.

A/C 515 flying no. 1 low and A/C 269, flying #4 lead, collided. Both ships broke up and went down out of control. One A/C reported 8 chutes. The plane went into a tight spin and exploded approx. 15,000 feet. 2nd Lt Hester was probably killed instantly when the props cut into the cockpit. 2nd Lt Hester was found at the place of the crash and was initially buried at a local Cemetery, 15 Km of Le Treport in France.