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name
SWANKE, Lester Lyle - Date of
birth
10 August 1923 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho -
Hometown
Kootenai County, Idaho
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-767418 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
390th Fighter Squadron,
366th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 November 1944 - Place of
death
Vicinity of Kemplich, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 11 | 66 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Johann H. Swanke (father)
Otillia M. (Legross) Swanke (mother)
Helen I. Swanke (sister)
Cecelia E. Swanke (daughter)
Stanley J. Swanke (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-28906 -
Data
Type: P-47D-28-RE
Destination: Kemplich, France
Mission: German unit headquarters
MACR: 10269
More information
2nd Lt Lester L. Swanke attended college before he joined the Regular Army in Fresno, California, on 10 February 1943.1st Lt John W. Feeney:
I was flying number three position, yellow flight. Lt Swanke was flying my wing in number four position. We went on our dive-bombing run together and both pulled up into the overcast. That was the last time I saw him. Yellow leader called him and some other flight answered and said that he was in their flight and that his radio was out. I last saw him at about 1045 hours, 8 November 1944, in the vicinity of Kemplich, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Knapp Family Tree, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery / Rememberme