George Joseph Lesko

Military

Object Number - UPL 44513 - Sgt George J Lesko, 384BG

Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Chas Shuff crew. 19 x combat missions. Severely wounded by flak on 22-Mar-45 returning from a mission to Westerholt, Germany in B-17 43-38630. Despite the pilot electing to land in Belgium to get assistance for George, pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Killed in Action (KIA).

Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

384th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

547th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Robert A Alderman

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group

Robert Charles Birney

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-2073028
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator, Commanding Officer

Joseph Rodman Britton

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 17165665

George Edward Cramer

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group
Service Numbers: 14181932
Highest Rank: Major
Role/Job: Ball turret gunner

Erwin Jack Harrison

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 1113840
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

42-38013

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Nevada avenger
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron

43-38630

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Missions

8th Air Force 906

Date: 22 March 1945

Places

Arlington National Cemetery

Site type: Cemetery

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Born	Francis Mine,, PA	8 October 1923	Son of Joe and Mary [Murdock] Lesko.
Enlisted	Pittsburgh, PA	28 May 1943	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died	Zoute, 8300 Knokke-Heist, Belgium	22 March 1945	SGT Lesko was severely wounded by flak on 22 March 1945 returning from a mission to Westerholt, Germany. The aircraft, 43-38630 was badly damaged and The Pilot, Charles B. Shuff, elected to land at Knocke/Le Zoute, Belgium (A-83) to seek aid for Lesko. The aircraft crash landed and burned at A-83. The crew was able to evacuate the aircraft with Lesko. Lesko was pronounced dead at the local hospital. The remaining crew survived and returned to duty at Grafton Underwood.
Buried			Re-Interred Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia
Based	Grafton Underwood	22 March 1945	Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF.