Hardwick SkiesStation 104 · 93rd Bomb GroupAdd to the Record
Crew Roster · Personal File
← Airmen Index

Lester J. Bishop

Waist Gunner · 409th Squadron
Hometown121 Fourth Street, Little Valley, New York, New York

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.

Prisoner of War

Sortie Log

2 CATALOGUED SORTIES
13 AUG 1944 — 13 AUG 1944

The sorties 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.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991