Charles W Kester
Military
"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019
Object Number - UPL 40921 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. At the time of the photo in October 1943 the airmen were assigned to the...
Flew 18 1/2 missions [according obituary he was shot down on his 15th mission]. Damaged by flak and later attacked by fighters on the return from a mission to Berlin on 22 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31524 crash-landed at Horsey Gap, Norfolk after four crewman baled out near Vechta, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft IV. He flew on R. L. Carlson crew on B-17 'Able Mabel'.
He later worked as a contract specialist with the US Dept of Labour and was past Indiana State Commander American ex-POWs. Charles died on 1st February 1993.
Air Medal w/olc
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: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32717953
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois | 11 August 1920 | |
|
Died |
1 February 1993 | ||
|
Buried |
Michigan City, Indiana |
Revisions
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, First Over Germany pg. 225, Combat Crews pg. 19, NARA, http://www.306bg.org/PDFs/93apr182.pdf (obit / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
