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Submit- Full
name
LARSON, Lester Paul - Date of
birth
20 March 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
New Jersey -
Hometown
Maplewood, Essex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12164372 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
3 km northwest of Hiddesen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl B. Larson (father)
Dagmar E. Larson (mother)
Robert W. Larson (brother)
Constance C. Larson (sister)
Louis F. Larson (brother)
William A. Larson (brother)
Donald E. Larson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39895 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bermondsey Battler
Destination: Aschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2935
More information
S/Sgt Lester P. Larson graduated from Columbia High School in 1942. He was working as a mechanic before entering the Air Corps.The airplane was hit by fire of enemy aricraft during the first attack. The #2 and #3 engine caught fire and there was probably a small fire in the nose. The pilot put the airplane in what looked to be a controlled slip to the left and dove down, probably in an effort to put out the fires..
The entire crew of ten men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Hiddesen.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, http://www.americanairmuseum.com, www.ancestry.com - United States World War II Army Enlistment Records / 1930 census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Columbia High School 1942