Ralph H Lesmeister

Military

Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C B-26 42-107597 hit by fighters, tail turret and gunner torn off in collision with enemy fighter both wings set ablaze, exploded, crashed two miles SW Bonn, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 11669.



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

An airman of the 391st Bomb Group wearing a service dress jacket and kilt. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.'

391st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-107597

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Old Sarge
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.

757

  • Date: 23 December 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Matching airfield looking south, the technical site is on the left, 19 July 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number RAF/58/62.English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Matching

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Matching Green
Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.

Stalag Luft I

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stevens County, MN, USA 9 April 1922 Son of Frank and Catherine Lesmeister.

Enlisted

Minneapolis, MN, USA 4 September 1942

Other

Shot down

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C B-26 42-107597 hit by fighters, tail turret and gunner torn off in collision with enemy fighter both wings set ablaze, exploded, crashed two miles SW Bonn, Germany. POW. MACR 11669.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 23 December 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I.

Died

Stevens County, MN, USA 3 October 1996 Sucuumbed to Cancer.
Minnesota, USA

Based

Matching 23 December 1944 Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Morris, MN 56267, USA Calvary Cemetery Morris Stevens County Minnesota, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmdate.asp?thedate=441223&Submi…
https://www.fold3.com/image/46705747
https://www.fold3.com/page/84643504_ralph_h%20lesmeister/details/
https://www.fold3.com/page/78031612_ralph_h%20lesmeister/details/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58661187