The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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206879 Sgt. George Kesten Royal Air Force 101 Sqd. (d.4th Nov 1944) George served with the Squadron in 1944, I know that George and the rest of his crew took off from Ludford Magna at 17.38 on 4 November 1944, en route for Bochum. The aircraft was Lancaster 1 ME865 SR-K on ABC duties. Six of the crew of eight were Canadians. George was the specialist operator. All eight perished that night and are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. The crew comprised: F/O G. T. Weiss (R.C.A.F.) pilot Sgt. D. F. G. Day Flt. Engr. F/O W.F. Moran (R.C.A.F.) Nav. F/O J. H. Quirt (R.C.A.F.) Air Bomber F/O A. N. Gould (R.C.A.F.) W/Op AG Sgt. G. Kesten Specialist Operator P/O W. J. Cpommins R.C.A.F. Air Gnr. P/O J. L. Gallant (R.C.A.F.) Air Gnr I know that there was (and still is) a lot of secrecy about what was going on at Ludford Magna at the time, and those with obvious Jewish names were encouraged to change their names accordingly, but whether that would have anything to do with George’s name not being on the 101 list I don’t know. George was a Polish Jew born in Berlin. I joined up with George in 1943. The Gestapo forced him and his family out of their home in Berlin at a moment’s notice. His sister got to Switzerland and George managed to get to London. His parents perished in Poland in the Holocaust. George and I were together for 13 months, but he responded to a call for volunteers for special duties who could speak fluent German. I went on to Wellingtons and George went on to Lancasters at Ludford Magna. Six weeks after I last saw him, he was dead. I still miss him. I am 84 and I he were alive today he would be 87. Len Jackson. Add to this record.  Additional Information: George Kesten is the only person amongst the 57,861 listed on the International Bomber Command Centre memorial who is defined as 'German' nationality. He is listed on panel number 59. Kenneth Moore Reply Related Content: No. 101 Squadron Royal Air Force RAF Ludford Magna Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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