WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Share #1 Posted May 15, 2012 I picked up today the following group directly from the family just a few miles away. (I have only got this luck a few times) MAJ Lester - US Air Force, started out in the Army Air Corps as a bombadier in the B-17. He obtained the rank of E7, Warrant Officer and later Major. I picked up his Air Force Uniform (1950's) with Warrant Rank. The family is bringing the last class A uniform as a Major and the WW2 NCO uniform to my house tonight! I got most of the medals, 100+ photos and unit history books with his individual citations. I scanned a few for now - I also have bombing raid photo of targets. Oddly they have the location, but some data was clipped of of each photo by the S-2 folks. He served in the 571st Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group Here is a little of what I could get posted today. MAJ Lester - ended up as a District Attornery for our county. I will post more a little at a time if folks are interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #2 Posted May 15, 2012 More Pics - I still need to reduce the size on many more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted May 15, 2012 Share #3 Posted May 15, 2012 Sounds like a very interesting group and I for one would like to see more!. Can you post pictures of the unit histories? I'm always interested to see those!. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #4 Posted May 15, 2012 More pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #5 Posted May 15, 2012 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted May 15, 2012 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #7 Posted May 15, 2012 ok even more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted May 15, 2012 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #9 Posted May 15, 2012 get close to what I can post today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted May 15, 2012 Last group for now - I will try to load citations and unit history info next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAF_Collection Posted May 15, 2012 Share #11 Posted May 15, 2012 Fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted May 15, 2012 Last mountain photo is obviously not paris - darn scanner is getting tired. It is of the Italian Alps.. Top phot had a caption of Paris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted May 15, 2012 Share #13 Posted May 15, 2012 Great grouping and really neat photos! Any idea what B-17 he was on? The wings on his tunic are gunner's wings, not bombardier's wings, so its probable that he was a "toggle switch" gunner. Very Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted May 15, 2012 Share #14 Posted May 15, 2012 GREAT GROUP!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted May 15, 2012 I'm not a quarter thru this yet, but here are some missions he has photo's so far: The bulk indicate "For Personal use only - censored and approved" signed John D. May, Capt S-2 Missions I have come accross to date are: Frankfurt Munster Rjuken Bremen Danzig Bohlen Munich Reutlingen Paris Also a citation or confirmation of shooting down a ME 110 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #16 Posted May 15, 2012 more missions He indicated on the back of the Bremen mission: somithing to the fact a real "killing" and I could not make out the last word Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #17 Posted May 15, 2012 final pic for day - need to cook dinner and get my kids to practice. He indicates the ball gunner is a freind that transfered with him by the name of Peter Ropernils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted May 15, 2012 Share #18 Posted May 15, 2012 Those are great pictures! the aerials are premier pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #19 Posted May 15, 2012 Ok - I said Bombardier - he was a tail gunner. Served on a 3 aircraft - 2 were shot down (lucky for him, he was not on those birds at that time) and final was damaged. Served on the "Short Stuff", "rick-O-Shay' and not sure of the last one. Other missions found: Hanau 10/04/43 Schweinfurt 10/14/43 Wihelmshaven Nov 43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share #20 Posted May 15, 2012 Here is a silly photo to family and a "Lions Club" introduction well after the war. I need to figure out how to scan the big photo that are bigger than 8X11 - may have to take photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted May 16, 2012 Share #21 Posted May 16, 2012 Great grouping and really neat photos! Any idea what B-17 he was on? The wings on his tunic are gunner's wings, not bombardier's wings, so its probable that he was a "toggle switch" gunner. Very Cool! Yeah , but if you look closely in the two photos he is wearin two different types of wings ............................ Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted May 16, 2012 Share #22 Posted May 16, 2012 Yeah , but if you look closely in the two photos he is wearin two different types of wings ............................ Johnny You mean the aircrew wings? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted May 16, 2012 Share #23 Posted May 16, 2012 Great group-photos are outstanding.....Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted May 16, 2012 Share #24 Posted May 16, 2012 You mean the aircrew wings? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at... One of his wings is the "aerial gunner"(winged bullit) the other looks to be the "aircrew" type with the round center. the photos in post #6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrantMafia Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share #25 Posted May 16, 2012 One of his wings is the "aerial gunner"(winged bullit) the other looks to be the "aircrew" type with the round center. the photos in post #6. Could he have done another assignment first/position? I did confirm he was a tail gunner - just wondering if he moved around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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