Chester Charles Cox

Military
media-31126.jpeg UPL 31126 Colonel Chester C. Cox
388th BG Group Commander
7 October 1944 thru end of hostilities 388th Bomb Group collection

Object Number - UPL 31126 - Colonel Chester C. Cox 388th BG Group Commander 7 October 1944 thru end of hostilities

Retired from the USAF with the rank of Brigadier General

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A crashed B-17F Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30230) nicknamed "Homesick Angel", 24 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(GAD-15-4-388)(24-8-43)(A/C No. 230230 Type B-17F)." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Rodgers. See note. Homesick Angel.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Homesick Angel
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Second Chance" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Second Chance
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Winged Fury
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
The insignia of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thunderbolt/Hi Fever
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 21 February 1945
  • Date: 21 January 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Grand Rapids, Minnesota 3 May 1916

Died

Hennepin County, MN, USA 21 May 2010 Brig. Gen. Chester C. Cox, 94, of Eden Prairie, Minn., died Friday, May 21, 2010. The retired brigadier general was a modest, quiet, well-respected gentleman dedicated to his country. He was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved the outdoors, mountains and trout streams. He was a World War II pilot of the B-17 bomber and completed 25 aerial missions. He was the first United States heavy bombardment pilot to drop bombs in direct support of the landings in France on D-Day. He was group commander of the 388th bomb group from 1943-1945. In 1964, he serviced under the Joint Chiefs of Staff-Pentagon. He moved 58 times, living throughout the United States and overseas. For the last 17 years, he resided in Eden Prairie. In 2009, he was presented with the Eden Prairie Veterans award. He was awarded the following medals: Air Force and Army Commendations, American and National Defense Service Medals, American and European Theater Ribbons, World War II Victory Medal. Well done, good and faithful servant. (note: 388th BG website lists him flying 23 combat missions. He was group commander from October 1944 thru the end of the war)

Buried

Minneapolis, MN, USA 25 May 2010 Fort Snelling National Cemetery • Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA Plot SECTION 19 SITE 1651

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the highest rank per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 53284186.
SOURCE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53284186/chester-charles-cox

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html

Chester Charles Cox: Gallery (1 items)