Chester J Beasley

Military

Tail gunner, Simpson crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30245 'Lucky Lady'. Mission #20 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 381. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft VIIA and XVIIB. S/Sgt Beasley was a prisoner with S/Sgt Gregory (RWG), S/Sgt Beech (BTG) and S/Sgt Edwards (RO). They were evacuated from Stalag Luft XVIIB in April 1945 and marched West for 16 days until they were liberated by Patton's forces near Braunau.

Credited with one German fighter probable on the 30 July 1943 mission.



POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735490
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20815174
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33287461
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33249701
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34316274
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

B-17 42-30245 Lucky Lady
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lady
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

22 March 1919

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 17 August 1943 Stalag Luft VIIA Stalag Luft XVIIB

Revisions

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 381 / MACR 381, www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx">www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx> / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database