| 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 |
| MOS | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 |
| Last Duty Date | 17 September 1944 |
| Results |
Prisoner Of War POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12 |
| Additional Information |
|
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 10197⇓ (7.749 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Soester, Wilbur Leroy | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Grabon, Daniel Stanley⇗ | Co-pilot | KIA |
| 2nd Lt. Schold, George Bertie, Jr⇗ | Navigator | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Fisher, Earl Wellington, Jr⇗ | Bombardier | CT |
| SGT. Wilhelm, Robert Frederick⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | CT |
| S/SGT. Pavlos, Nickolas Manuel⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
| CPL. Schmeller, Thomas Raymond⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | KIA |
| SGT. Kelsey, Donald Edward⇗ | Tail Gunner | CT |
| PVT. Norstrom, John Julius⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| 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⇗ |