Chester Howard Rudel

Military

Assigned to 764BS, 461BG, 15AF USAAF. Stand in co-pilot for Ken Smith crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Odertal oil refinery in B-24 42-51324; Mechanical issues forced A/C to drop out of formation, subsequently mauled by fighters, A/C abandoned. His descent went well until he hit a tree, whence he plunged to earth, breaking his back, damage that disabled him for life. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 10683



Awards: PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-24 Liberator of the 461st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force drops supplies over a Prisoner of War camp in Austria, May 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '9 May 1945, Last 'combat' mission of 461st BG to British POW camp near Villack, Austria. #33 flown by Lt John Stegman- 765th BS.'

461st Bomb Group

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

People

Kenneth Butler Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 461st Bomb Group 764th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15108203 / O-825700
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-51324

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Tenmenbak / Paulette
  • Unit: 461st Bomb Group 764th Bomb Squadron

Places

Dulag Luft 12

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

Torretta

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Cerignola #3

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Wells, North Dakota 29 September 1918 Son of Edward and Emma Rudel.

Enlisted

San Diego, CA 23 September 1942 San Diego, California

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Trencin, Czech 17 February 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Hospitalised in Czech.

Other

Baled out POW

Trencin, Czech 17 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Odertal oil refinery in B-24 42-51324; Downed by fighters, A/C abandoned. POW MACR 10683

Other

Discharged USAAF

7 June 1946 Honourable discharge.

Died

Bakersfield, CA 14 July 1986
Fessenden, ND NoK: Wife Alma Rudel.

Based

Torretta 17 December 1944 Assigned to 764BS, 461BG, 15AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28701982
https://www.fold3.com/image/204549249
https://www.fold3.com/image/670768346
https://www.fold3.com/image/670258779
https://www.fold3.com/record/67212382-chester-rudel
https://www.fold3.com/record/85034766-chester-h-rudel
https://www.fold3.com/record/629014942-chester-rudel-1918
http://archives.datapages.com/data/bull_memorials/072/072004/pdfs/494.h…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205582759/chester-howard-rudel