Donald Joseph LESTER

Donald Joseph LESTER Update Details

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LESTER, Donald Joseph

Service Number:	425173
Enlisted:	31 January 1942
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	Not yet discovered
Born:	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 6 January 1912
Home Town:	Bororen, Gladstone, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Flying Battle, France, 6 August 1944, aged 32 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, EnglanRd, United Kingdom
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bororen Memorial Courts, Bororen War Memorial, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Maryborough No. 3 Wireless Air Gunners' School Memorial Wall, Miriam Vale War Memorial, Runnymede Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Warrant Officer, 425173
31 Jan 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 425173

Final Mission : 6th August 1944

Warrant Officer Donald Joseph Lester RAAF (416947) was the wireless operator on board 83 Squadron RAF Lancaster PB140 OL-H on a daylight raid to a V1 flying bomb site at Bois de Casson in NW France on 6th August 1944,

The aircraft had a crew of eight captained by Flt. Sgt. Stanley Charles Burleigh RAFVR/1711577.

The aircraft departed RAF Coningsby at 09.08hours and over the target area was engaged in a flying battle with a number of Fw190's. The aircraft suffered significant damage and two crew were injured.
Pilot ordered a "bale out" direction, but only W/O Lester was able to parachute out. His parachute was seen to deploy.

Howevever, the pilot was able to regain some control of the aircraft & he then cancelled his "bale out" order.

The aircraft limped its way back across the channel to the nearest RAF base at Ford in West Sussex and crash landed at 14.15 hours - it was written off.

Donald Joseph Lester's body was never recovered - presumed KIA.
Commemorated at Runnymede Memorial panel 259.

All other seven crew survived this operation.

Ken Cowan
(relative of Donald Joseph Lester)

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia