| Name | Lester W KNOPP | Rank | S/Sgt |
| Number | 39184861 | Date of Birth/Age | 13 Aug 1921 |
| Unit | 96 Bomb Group, 337 Bomb Squadron, USAAF | ||
| Aircraft | B-17F-85-BO
42-30040 AW-A 'Wabbit Twacks III' |
Crew position | Waist Gunner |
| Based at | Snetterton Heath, Norfolk, UK | ||
| Target | Schweinfurt, Germany | Failed to return | 14 Oct 1943 |
| Escape Networks | Possum Line | Capture | Arrested in the Pyrenees |
| Liberated | ? | References | NARA:E&E/1526
- Lester Knopp NARA:RG498/290/55/27/2 Box 58 - Awards' file - Bulart NARA:RG498/290/55/27/2 Box ? - Awards' file - Raymond Gallet |
Last updated on
10 June, 2009
|
E&E/1526
Members of crew
| Pilot | 0-421510 |
1st Lt Robert H HARMESON | PoW |
| Co-pilot | 0-680382 |
2nd Lt Charles M BAER | MIA |
| Navigator | 0-736622
|
2nd Lt Vernon E CLARK | NARA:E&E/290 |
| Bombardier | 0-671236 |
2nd Lt Charles P BRONNER | NARA:E&E/292 |
| Radio operator | 37385779 |
T/Sgt Tollie G BERRY | PoW |
| Top turret gunner | 32288613 |
T/Sgt William B DUNNING | NARA:E&E/296 |
| Ball turret gunner | 17035621 |
S/Sgt Jay B JOLLEY | PoW |
| Waist gunner | 34038449 |
S/Sgt William B HOWELL | PoW |
| Waist gunner | 39184861 |
S/Sgt Lester W KNOPP | NARA:E&E/1526 - narrator |
| Tail gunner | 33256368 |
S/Sgt Robert F HENRY | PoW |
Sheltered by M. and Mme. DÉZOTHEZ, of Fismes, for six weeks (mid Nov - end Dec 1943). Also there at that time were Kenneth Nice & another officer, whose first name was written as "Len". This person is almost certainly Everett Childs (USAAF), whose middle name was Lynn!
The three airmen managed to evade capture on 31 Dec 1943, but M. and Mme. DÉZOTHEZ were arrested & deported to Germany.
<There's more to come!>