Geist Wesley Dale

Monuments

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Information Boards

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Monument

Name:

Wesley Dale Geist

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

37233289

Unit:

410th Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-01-05

State:

Kansas

Cemetery:

Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Wesley Dale Geist was born on January 2, 1921, in Chapman, Kansas. He was the son of John Wesley Geist and Emma Elizabeth Stein Geist.

Wesley served in the 410th Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Radio Operator/Gunner on the B-17 #42-30112 'Lil Butch' during World War II.

On January 5, 1944, his crew took off from Station 468 airfield in Bury St. Edmunds, England, for a mission to bomb the Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in France. At around 11:00H, their plane was attacked by an enemy fighter, experienced mechanical problems crashing into St-Laurent-Médoc, and exploded. This incident resulted in the deaths of eight crew members. The remaining two members were able to bail out and evaded German capture. Sgt Geist was one of those who were killed. He is now buried in the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, France. He also has a cenotaph located in the Alida Zion Evangelical Cemetery, Upland, Dickinson County, Kansas.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net