Personal File · AirmanPrisoner of War

Lester J. Bishop.

Waist Gunner · 409th Squadron · Of 121 Fourth Street, Little Valley, New York, New York.

The Man Behind the Name

§ Biography

Sgt. Lester J. Bishop served as waist gunner aboard B-24H 42-94991. He bailed out successfully after the aircraft was hit by flak near Falaise, France on 13 August 1944. Five other crew members also bailed out.

Bishop was captured and held as a prisoner of war. His POW status was confirmed on 10 October 1944. He was the primary respondent for the casualty questionnaire and provided detailed accounts of what he witnessed before and after the aircraft was lost.

His next of kin was listed as Mr. David G. Bishop (father), 121 Fourth Street, Little Valley, New York. In 1949, the Adjutant General's office wrote to Bishop (addressing him as Leslie) requesting information about the fate of Bradford and Hagler.

Service record.

§ As Catalogued
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Waist Gunner
Serial Number
40021762
Hometown
121 Fourth Street, Little Valley, New York, New York

Missions flown.

2 catalogued · 13 Aug 1944 — 13 Aug 1944

The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

Sources.

§ Provenance
United States Army Air Forces · National Archives and Records Administration · 1944
Official record