Sam Kessler

Military
media-14926.jpeg UPL 14926 SSGT Sam Kessler
Radio Operator
Crew #682 - Robert G Gordon Crew
466th BG - 786th BS

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 14926 - SSGT Sam Kessler Radio Operator Crew #682 - Robert G Gordon Crew 466th BG - 786th BS

Flew 14 missions. Shot down, bailed out, landed on a church steeple, ended up in the hospital



AM

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-776283
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pale Ale
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

22 October 1923

Enlisted

New York, NY, USA 3 June 1943

Other

Bailed Out

Dergneau, 7912 Frasnes-lez-Anvaing, Belgium 20 February 1945 Control cables snapped in his a/c, B-24H #42-50336 "Pale Ale" causing it to fall out of control. Kessler was able to bail out, albeit with a damaged parachute. He drifted through a B-17 formation before landing in a Belgian field.

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG ARchives

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

Sam Kessler: Gallery (2 items)