Lester Ernest Reuss

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-24068.jpeg UPL 24068 2Lt. Lester Ernest Reus

Fold3.com

Object Number - UPL 24068 - 2Lt. Lester Ernest Reus

Killed in Action (KIA) Shot down by fighters and crashed near Biltburg in B-17 Bad Penny #4231183. After completing a bombing mission on the airdrome at Wiesbaden, the B-17 he was in was attacked by Germany fighters and shot down. According to mission reports, his plane pitched up, then exploded. All crew members bailed out or were blown free of the aircraft. Lt. Reuss landed near the village of Preist, but his chute tangled in a tree. A Nazi party officer arrived and shot him. Two villagers then beat him to death with hammers. These three Germans were tried and hanged in June 1945.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire a pin up painted on the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-Y, serial number 42-31183). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'BN-Y. 'Bad Penny'? 91.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Penny
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

15 August 1944

Born

Forsyth, Montana

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
From user 'millebr': MACR 8170; Fold3.com; TogetherWeServed.com; Headstone and Interment Records for Veterans Interred Overseas

Date
Contributormillebr
Changes
Sources

Fold3.com; TogetherWeServed.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8170

Lester Ernest Reuss: Gallery (1 items)