Lesesne, Charles
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Charles |
Surname | Lesesne |
Gender | M |
Age | 34 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 31-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Claude P. and Elizabeth Daniel Lesesne, of Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.A. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ418 |
Markings | KW-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6A. D. 13. |
Epitaph | NATIVE OF SUMTER STH. CAROLINA. U.S.A. SON OF CLAUDE P. AND ELIZABETH DANIEL LESESNE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 198 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | C/3879 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 31-03-1945 |
End Date | 31-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Hamburg to attack the Blohm and Voss shipbuilding yards, where a new class of U-boats was being assembled. 469 aircraft, 11 lost due to a surprise appearance of the new Me 262 jet-propelled fighter. It was it's only appearance in fact. The target was completely cloud-covered so bombing was scattered throughout Hamburg with little damage to the intended target |
Reason for Loss | Became lost on the approach to Hamburg and, vulnerable while outside of the main bomber stream, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and then three Me262s, fatally damaging the aircraft. All of the crew baled out except the skipper, who remained at the controls to give the crew the best chance of making good their escape. He then bailed out but was badly beaten on landing by a group of women searchlight operators. Sometime later, Lesesne was thrown into the same cell as some of his crewmates. He was clearly near death so they called the guards and demanded medical help for their skipper. The reply they received was that every doctor in Hamburg had his hands full that night. Lesesne survived long enough to tell his crewmates what had happened to him. He was the last member of No. 425 Squadron to die on operations in World War II. |