Andrew Truett Kester
MilitaryRTD crashed near Kustrin on 17 Mar 45 in B-17 'Naughty Virgin' #4338014
On his 12th combat mission, his plane was shot down over Berlin by one of the new German fighter jets. Staying on the strickened plane along with other crew members until it crossed over the front lines, Truett parachuted out of the plane. He was immediately captured by Russian soldiers, but unfortunately they spoke no English. Only after sketching out a drawing of his plane being shot down did the Russian commander understand that he was an American. Truett said he had a great love and respect of the Russian and Polish people he met during his rescue. Truett Kester was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in sustained bomber combat operations over Germany and German occupied countries.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Naughty Virgin
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Shelby, NC, USA | 21 October 1922 | |
Enlisted |
Los Angeles, CA, USA | 3 December 1942 | |
Died |
Statesville, NC, USA | 2 August 2016 | |
Other Returned (RTD) |
Germany | 18 March 1945 |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13146 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database