Wilbur served as a Staff Sergeant and Carpet Spot-Jammer on B-17 #43-38701, 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Jackson County, Missouri prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on September 24, 1943 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the Agricultural occupation and also as Single, with dependents.

B-17 #43-38701 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 134, England on a bombing mission over Aussig, Germany. After successfully releasing their bombs they were attacked and shot down by German Aircraft just south of Dresden, Germany. Three parachutes were seen leaving the B-17 however none of the crew survived the crash.

Wilbur was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # 37723289

Wilbur also has a "cenotaph" in the Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, Independence, Missouri.
" Click Here " for that record.

His brother, Sgt Leonard E. Lesh, was also "Killed In Action" during the war.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #43-38701:

Dole, Lyle E. ~ Sgt, Engineer, WA
Langley, George B., Jr. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NJ
Lesh, Wilbur L. ~ S/Sgt, Jammer, MO
Phillips, Richard B. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NC
Snyder, Paul A ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, OH?
Stauffer, Wayne W. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, PA
Stewart, Ross E., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Trojanowski, Joseph A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MA
Wilson, William ~ F/O, Navigator, MD
Zuendel, William G., Jr. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH

( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

Wilbur served as a Staff Sergeant and Carpet Spot-Jammer on B-17 #43-38701, 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Jackson County, Missouri prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on September 24, 1943 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the Agricultural occupation and also as Single, with dependents.

B-17 #43-38701 took off, with a crew of 10, from Station 134, England on a bombing mission over Aussig, Germany. After successfully releasing their bombs they were attacked and shot down by German Aircraft just south of Dresden, Germany. Three parachutes were seen leaving the B-17 however none of the crew survived the crash.

Wilbur was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # 37723289

Wilbur also has a "cenotaph" in the Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, Independence, Missouri.
" Click Here " for that record.

His brother, Sgt Leonard E. Lesh, was also "Killed In Action" during the war.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #43-38701:

Dole, Lyle E. ~ Sgt, Engineer, WA
Langley, George B., Jr. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NJ
Lesh, Wilbur L. ~ S/Sgt, Jammer, MO
Phillips, Richard B. ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, NC
Snyder, Paul A ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, OH?
Stauffer, Wayne W. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, PA
Stewart, Ross E., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Trojanowski, Joseph A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MA
Wilson, William ~ F/O, Navigator, MD
Zuendel, William G., Jr. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH

( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )