Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
GLASER, Lester P - Date of
birth
21 July 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Port Jervis, Orange County, New York -
Hometown
Bergen County, New Jersey -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-761292 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
570th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Hoorn, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 4 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles P. Glaser (father)
Bertha Glaser (mother)
Audrey Glaser (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97983 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plants
MACR: 7367
More information
2nd Lt Lester P. Glaser graduated from Collingswood High School in 1940 and attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.He joined the Philippine Scouts of the U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 7 October 1942.
At 0604 hours at 5238 N-0455 E, aircraft #42-107070 was rammed by aircraft #42-97983, as a result of the first aircraft dropping back when caught in prop wash.
The plane lost the propellors and the #2 engine, with fire starting in the left wing and spreading to aircraft #42-107070, which were meshed together.
The planes parted the formation at 10,000 feet spinning and disintegrating, with both planes exploding before hitting the ground.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five were killed.
The casualties of both planes were initially buried at the community cemetery of Hoorn on 12 July 1944.
Some pictures are of a monument dedicated to the men of the B-17G, in Hoorn, The Netherlands.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Frank Leek