Lesko, George Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Lesko, George Joseph   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Sergeant
Serial Number 33688834   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #29 dated 5 February 1945, effective 5 February 1945.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 22 March 1945
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia: Section 34, Grave 2110
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 8 October 1923
  • Combat mission records for the period 20 February to 4 March 1945 show George Lesko assigned to the Ball Turret position. George Cramer, in personal interviews in January 2014, stated that 'Lesko never flew in any other position than Flexible [Waist] Gunner.'
    Lesko was killed in combat aboard the aircraft, which was landed in allied territory (did not return to base).
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 18 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #40 dated 18 February 1945.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Shuff, Charles Bernard⇗PilotTBD
2nd Lt. White, William F⇗Co-pilotFCMEW
2nd Lt. Birney, Robert Charles, "Bob"⇗NavigatorTBD
2nd Lt. Abbott, Charles R⇗BombardierCT
CPL. Harrison, Erwin Jack, "Itch"⇗Radio Operator / GunnerFCMEW
CPL. Henricks, Bernard Joseph⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Cramer, George Edward⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Britton, Joseph Rodman⇗Tail GunnerTBD
CPL. Lesko, George JosephFlexible GunnerKIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 19 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
269⇗ 20 February 1945 Target: Main Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38800⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
270⇗ 21 February 1945 Target: Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑39035⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
271⇗ 22 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ülzen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit

Sortie Report⇗
272⇗ 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Plauen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38800⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Wormingford Airfield, AAF Station 159.
Sortie Report⇗
274⇗ 25 February 1945 Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38757⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
276⇗ 27 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Wahren (Leipzig area), Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38752⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37788. Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
277⇗ 28 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hagen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38800⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
278⇗ 1 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bruchsal, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6909⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
280⇗ 3 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
281⇗ 4 March 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ulm, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38548⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
283⇗ 8 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant'
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Essen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38647⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
285⇗ 10 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Schwerte, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38647⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
286⇗ 11 March 1945 Target: Vacuum Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38752⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
288⇗ 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38630⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
289⇗ 15 March 1945 Target: Army HQ
Type: Military
Location: Zossen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6898⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
290⇗ 17 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen (Leipzig), Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑39236⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
292⇗ 19 March 1945 Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group.
Sortie Report⇗
293⇗ 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6898⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
294⇗ 22 March 1945 Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E
Type: Military
Location: Westerholt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38630⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flak damage forced the pilot to crash-land on the continent
Sortie Report⇗

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