Lester Wilson Schneider
MilitaryAssigned to 534BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. June / Aug-43. Bombardier, Wroblicka crew. 29-Jul-43 crash landed in Norfolk on return from Kiel in B-17 42-3221 'Whale Tail' with 3 x engines out. Crew returned. RTD
Shot down 12-Aug-43 in B-17 42-29954 'Devil's Angel'. Mission #17 to the synthetic oil works at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. MACR 383. Lost 2 x engines to fighters. (1st 534th BS crew lost). Prisoner of War (POW)
Awards: AM (OLC), PH (OLC), EAME (1BS), WWII Victory.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38234081
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-670119
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37197647
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20500924
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36320870
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 12 August 1943
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Saint Marys, Ohio | 3 January 1916 | BornSaint Marys, Ohio |
Enlisted |
Toledo, Ohio | 11 March 1941 | EnlistedToledo, Ohio |
Other Commissioned |
2 January 1943 | Commissioned 2nd Lt | |
Prisoner of war Prisoner of war (POW) |
Stalag Luft III , Zagan, Poland | 12 August 1943 - 1 May 1945 | Prisoner of war (POW)Stalag Luft III , Zagan, PolandStalag VIIA, Moosburg, Germany |
Other Discharged |
5 December 1945 | ||
Died |
Dallas County, Texas | 13 January 2004 | DiedDallas County, Texas |
Buried |
Restland Memorial Park Dallas, Dallas County, Texas | 16 January 2004 | InterredRestland Memorial ParkDallas, Dallas County, Texas |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C type in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 383, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 206-7, 230 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 383 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database