Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
FOSTER, Chester Bennett - Date of
birth
10 February 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri -
Hometown
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37244981 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
Friesack, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 33 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Chester D. Foster (father)
Clara L. Foster (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-98016 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 9524
More information
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
One crew member was taken prisoner, eight men were killed. They were initially buried in a common grave at the local cemetery of Friesack, on 7 October 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten