Coleman, Lester Kenneth

Individual Personnel Data
Name Coleman, Lester Kenneth   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 13043313   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #99 dated 19 September 1943, effective 19 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 25 May 1944 - 398th Bomb Group, AAF Station Nuthampstead, effective 22 May 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 22 May 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 June 1920
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #57 dated 25 March 1944.
  • Granted a seven day furlough on 1 April 1944 per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 1 April 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #91 dated 16 May 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Schock, George William, "Bill"⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Kranick, Martin Everett⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Garrett, James Patrick⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Hawkins, Charles Joseph⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
PVT. Benker, Patrick Dennis⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Coleman, Lester KennethBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Palmer, Raymond Thomas⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Hamm, Morton Washington⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Shannon, Lucian Glenroie⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30005⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37776⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron. Aborted due to excessive icing; aircraft stalled at 80mph and dropped 3000' after hitting propwash in icing conditions.
Sortie Report⇗
40⇗ 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy; aborted due to a "broken piston head in #2 engine."
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group. Aborted with loss of oil pressure in #2 engine. Attacked Wittmund, Germany, as a Target Of Opportunity (TOO). Geographic location given is closer to Neßmersiel than Wittmund.
Sortie Report⇗
44⇗ 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Ball Turret 42‑29723⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑38014⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron, low group. Turned back at 1125 hrs when #4 engine began throwing out dense black smoke. It was ruled that the abort was not justified: the pilot was relieved (returned to co-pilot duty).
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37982⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because the oil pressure in #3 engine dropped, causing severe vibration; could not feather prop.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37848⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1042 hrs because #1 engine was running roughly and vibrated excessively.
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31222.
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, composite high group.
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41 Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Landed away at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
89⇗ 13 April 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead. Aborted shortly before target. Supporting documents show that the crew was granted credit for this sortie.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Togglier 42‑97081⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
102⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
104⇗ 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Togglier 42‑107083⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Togglier 42‑107057⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back when #2 supercharger failed.
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Togglier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, high composite group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Togglier 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A. Landed away at RAF Wratting Common, Cambridgeshire, on return.
Sortie Report⇗

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