Lester Francis Rentmeester
MilitaryRear L-R: S/Sgt Rudy Malkin, T/Sgt Elmer A Diethorn, T/Sgt Ward E Simonson, S/Sgt Gordon A Wiggett and S/Sgt Phillip F Lunt.
Front L-R: Lt Robert N Roberts, Capt Lester F Rentmeester, Lt William W Behrend and Lt Joseph T Ashby.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10685-A62785AC.
Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Completed Tour Duty (ETD).
Awards: DFC, AM (4 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: Remained in USAF, rising to rank of Colonel. After retiring from the service he became a professor for twelve years at the University of Florida and NOVA University. Also the author of eight books on local history around Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Les tried to enlist to serve as a pilot in World War II, but was turned away for his flat feet.
But the day following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, flat feet and all, Les was called up and six months later was in California for pilot training.
In late 1943 he left New York on the Queen Mary, then a troop ship that moved faster than the U-boats. He arrived at Bassingbourn in just five days.
He was initially tasked with 25 bombing missions, but in the end there weren’t enough pilots so he was reassigned to fly 30 missions.
“I was pretty lucky to live through it. They’d shoot down the guy next to me and miss me,” said Les. “I had a great time, except when they were shooting at me. They’d shoot at me and I’d yell at them ‘Cut that out! You’re ruining my nice plane!’ They wouldn’t care.”
One time after a particularly tough mission Les’s ground crew chief reported 87 holes in his plane.
Les returned from his 30th mission with only three of his four engines – something not all that
uncommon. His secret to surviving those 30 dangerous missions. “I was a pretty good pray-er. My mother was a champion pray-er. She had a direct line with the Big Guy,” Les said.
In summary, “Being a pretty good pray-er, be on good terms with God and don’t curse too much. God is your buddy.”
Les and his crew received last rites from a priest just before leaving on a mission. “I got the last rites quite a few times. If you need any last rites, I’ve got some extra ones,” he said.
Another secret to his success. Les had a singing crew. “They decided it was a good way to keep everybody happy was to sing,” he said. “We sang our way over Europe towards Germany. Religious songs and polka songs, especially the ‘Beer Barrel Polka’ was a
favorite.”
Les returned to the States in May 1944, as D-Day was being celebrated around the world.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-807933
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Wisconsin, USA | 18 February 1919 | Son of Andrew N and Anna Maria [Vanderkelen] Rentmeeste. |
Enlisted |
Green Bay, WI, USA | 26 March 1942 | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
Other Promotion |
Bassingbourn, Royston SG8, UK | 8 May 1944 | Promoted to Captain. |
Other End Tour Duty (ETD). |
28 May 1944 | Completed Tour Duty (ETD). | |
Died |
1 November 2020 | ||
Buried |
Saint John the Baptist Church CemeteryHoward, Brown County, WI | 4 November 2020 | Saint John the Baptist Church Cemetery Howard, Brown County, Wisconsin |
Born |
Brown County, WI, USA | ||
Based |
Bassingbourn | 28 May 1944 | Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Melinda Roberts
WisconsinHistoricalMarkers.com
Author, Little Wisconsin.
https://gopresstimes.com/2019/02/19/rentmeester-celebrates-100-years/