Lt. Harold Kester

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Husband Lt. Harold Kester

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           Born: 17 Sep 1917 - Cory, Clay County, IN
       Baptized: 
           Died: 20 Sep 1942 - Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish, LA
         Buried:  - Oak Hill Cemetery, Riley, Vigo County, IN
FamilySearch ID: LH17-WP2
Find A Grave ID: 44345627

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         Father: Rudolph Benjamin Kester {FSID: L4SJ-F4W, FGID: 68229658}
         Mother: Goldie E. Shaw {FSID: KV5M-251, FGID: 68230091}

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Wife

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           Born: 
       Baptized: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Lt. Harold Kester

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44345627/harold-kester

BIRTH 17 Sep 1917
DEATH 20 Sep 1942 (aged 25)
BURIAL
Oak Hill Cemetery
Riley, Vigo County, Indiana, USA
MEMORIAL ID 44345627

twin of Gerald

"Plane Crash Kills 3 Barksdale Airmen

One Parachutes to Safety Before Two-Motored Medium Bomber Falls and Burns Near Plain Dealing

Three army fliers were killed and one parachuted to safety yesterday afternoon when a two-motored B-26 Barksdale Field bomber crashed, exploded and burned in a swampy wooded area west of Plain Dealing about 25 miles north of Shreveport.

Killed were:

Second Lieut. Burton W. Basten, 23, of Placentia, Calif., pilot, whose wife lives at 637 Benton road in Bossier City.

Second Lieut. Harold Kester, 24, of Cory, Ind., co-pilot.

Staff Sgt. George W. Chandler, 23, of 509 E. 7th street, Dallas, Texas.

A fourth crew member, Corp. Norman O. Black, 24, of 914 Pennsylvania street, Fort Worth, Texas, engineer, parachuted from a low altitude but escaped with only minor bruises and scratches, Barksdale authorities said last night.

Black, who is the son of Mrs. Minnie H. Black, Route 3, Goldthwaite, Texas, landed only about 100 yards from the spot where the bomber struck the swamp land, burying its engine several feet in the mud.

Black's parachute, after opening successfully, caught in a tree as he neared the ground and left him dangling a few feet from the ground. Barksdale authorities said that he had jumped through the bomb bay, apparently a very short time before the crash.

The crash occurred about three miles west of Plain Dealing in what used to be a lakebed, post officials said.

Lieutenant Basten was a graduate of Redland university, Redland, Calif., and had been transferred to Barksdale only two months ago.

Lieutenant Kester was a graduate of Purdue university and of the Lake Charles advanced flying school.

Sergeant Chandler came to Barksdale only three days ago from Kelly Field.

When he was brought to the Barksdale hospital in a partly dazed condition, Black still tightly clutched as a souvenir the chromium ripcord ring from the parachute which had carried him to safety. Barksdale officials said it was Black's first parachute jump.

Asked how long he had to wait before help reached him, Black said "it seemed like years." He was able to climb from his parachute caught in the tree and then walked over to the plane then in flames."

Shreveport Times, 21 Sepember 1942 front page story; sourced by John Andrew Prime 20 September 2013.

Inscription:
"From this hallowed tomb Harold became an 11th airman on his twin brother's flying fortress bomber with crew of 10. Witness Valda Kester.

"His divine intervention transended [sic] to the twin brother and thus he flew the bomber in combat mode through numerous air battles and a few shoot-outs, unharmed. Witness Gerald Kester."

Created by: Tina Galey-Horrall
Added: 15 Nov 2009
Find a Grave Memorial 44345627

memorial page for Lieut Harold Kester (17 Sep 1917–20 Sep 1942), Find a Grave Memorial no. 44345627, citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Riley, Vigo County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by Tina Galey-Horrall (contributor 47148677) .

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LH17-WP2
"Birth • 17 Sep 1917
Indiana, United States

Death • Abt 1943
<Staunton,, IN>"

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