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Soester, Wilbur Leroy

Individual Personnel Data
Name Soester, Wilbur Leroy   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-757316   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #134 dated 11 July 1944, effective 11 July 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 17 September 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 10197 (7.749 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Soester, Wilbur LeroyPilotPOW
2nd Lt. Grabon, Daniel StanleyCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Schold, George Bertie, JrNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Fisher, Earl Wellington, JrBombardierCT
SGT. Wilhelm, Robert FrederickRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Pavlos, Nickolas ManuelEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Schmeller, Thomas RaymondBall Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Kelsey, Donald EdwardTail GunnerCT
PVT. Norstrom, John JuliusFlexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 19 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
163 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Co-pilot 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
164 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report
165 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Pilot 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
166 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
170 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
I Group.
Sortie Report
171 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
173 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
174 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
176 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Pilot 43‑37990 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
180 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Pilot 44‑8011 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Pilot 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Pilot 44‑8011 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Pilot 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
191 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany
Pilot 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
194 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
195 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands
Co-pilot 44‑8011 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
F Squadron lead. At 1122 hrs, prior to the IP, a direct flak burst hit the #2 engine, and the right wing caught fire. The aircraft exploded shortly before or on hitting the ground. Crashed near Liege, Belgium. MACR 10197
Sortie Report

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