Lester Paul Larson was born on March 20, 1924, in Maplewood, Essex County, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 22, 1942, in Newark, New Jersey. He was noted as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.

Lester served in the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17G "Bermondsay Battler" #42-39895 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on February 22, 1944, when his aircraft was shot down over Germany and crashed at Detmold. He is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

Crew of B-17 "Bermondsay Battler" (#42-39895):
Eden, Lawrence V., S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, New Jersey

Evans, Rowland H., 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Maryland

Kaufman, Harold W., 2nd Lt, Bombardier, Illinois

Kemper, Harold C., T/Sgt, Engineer, Kentucky

Larson, Lester P., S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, New Jersey

Manning, Andrew F., S/Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, Nebraska

Meier, Leonard P., 2nd Lt, Navigator, New York

Smith, Lee W., 1st Lt, Pilot, Indiana

Solway, Reginald C., Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, Washington

Zappala, John W., T/Sgt, Massachusetts

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov