Home > Australia > New South Wales > Maitland City > Maitland > Campbells Hill Cemetery > 1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten

1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten

Birth	:	23 Jul 1921 Harrison County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	30 Nov 1944 Theissen, Burgenlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Burial	:	Campbells Hill Cemetery, Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate	:	-32.7252090, 151.5368990
Inscription	:	In Memory Of First Lt. Lloyd W. Kersten United States Air Force July 23, 1921 Killed In Action Over Germany Nov. 30, 1944 Buried In France Lloyd W. Kersten 1st Lt US Army Air Forc
Description	:	First Lieutenant Lloyd Wesley Kersten, Army serial number O-819918, was born at Calhoun Township, Harrison County, Iowa (near Logan, Iowa) on July 23, 1921. His parents were Edward Frederick Kersten (1 Sep 1885 – Feb 1942), who was born at Osage County, Kansas; and Martha Marie (Schuelzky) Kersten (25 Jun 1885 – 4 Feb 1977), who was born at Adams County, Nebraska. His parents married at Guide Rock, Webster County, Nebraska on August 24, 1910. His father was a farmer. He had four older siblings and at least two younger siblings. In 1930 the family lived in Calhoun Township, Harrison... Read More	First Lieutenant Lloyd Wesley Kersten, Army serial number O-819918, was born at Calhoun Township, Harrison County, Iowa (near Logan, Iowa) on July 23, 1921. His parents were Edward Frederick Kersten (1 Sep 1885 – Feb 1942), who was born at Osage County, Kansas; and Martha Marie (Schuelzky) Kersten (25 Jun 1885 – 4 Feb 1977), who was born at Adams County, Nebraska. His parents married at Guide Rock, Webster County, Nebraska on August 24, 1910. His father was a farmer. He had four older siblings and at least two younger siblings. In 1930 the family lived in Calhoun Township, Harrison County, Iowa. He completed four years of high school, and worked as a farmer. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Camp Dodge near Des Moines, Iowa on December 18, 1942. His wartime home of record was Logan, Harrison County, Iowa. He married Helen Marie John (29 Oct 1923 – 18 Aug 2001) at Franklin County, Ohio on March 14, 1944. At that time he was stationed at Lockbourne Army Air Base in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Lloyd and Helen Kersten had a child, Connie Lou (Kersten) O'Gara (25 Dec 1944 – 18 May 1991). Helen Kersten later married Charles Sam Emre (1924 – 1971) and Robert Frances House (1924 – 2012). He completed Army Air Forces pilot training and was assigned a crew. The Kersten crew completed B-17 operational training at Dyersburg Army Air Base, Tennessee, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Army Air Forces Station 137, near the village of Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The crew arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is the Kersten crew roster on November 30, 1944: B-17G 43-37877 – 836th Bomb Squadron • Kersten, Lloyd W – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA • Gerland, Henry E – 1/Lt – Copilot – KIA • Hyland Jr, James W – 1/Lt – Navigator – POW • Ritchhart, Warren H – 1/Lt – Bombardier – POW • Eberhart, John D – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA • Shegal, Arnold R – T/Sgt – Engineer – KIA • Morrison, Everett S – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA • Sullivan, Maurice J – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA • Miller, Joseph M – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA Lt Kersten and six of his crew mates were killed in action on November 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-37877, was shot down by flak. The target was the the oil refinery at Leuna near Merseburg, Germany. As the 487th Bomb Group formation approached the Initial Point of the bomb run near Triptis, the radar set in the lead ship malfunctioned, and the deputy lead ship took over the lead for a visual run. The bombardier in that ship couldn't pick out the Leuna refinery through the smokescreen and the flak, so he chose to drop on what was thought to be a refinery in the vicinity of Zeitz. Just after bombs away at 1315, Lt Kersten's B-17 received direct flak hits and went down in the vicinity of Theißen, just north of Zeitz, Germany. Lt Hyland and Lt Ritchhart bailed out just before the aircraft exploded, and survived as prisoners of war. The bombs struck the eastern outskirts of Zeitz, about 19 miles southeast of the assigned target. After the war his remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Magnolia Cemetery in Harrison County, Iowa. Sources: 1. 487th Bomb Group Association 2. 1920 US Census; Iowa; Harrison County; Magnolia. Kersten, Edward F. Jan 1920 (his father) 3. 1930 US Census; Iowa; Harrison County; Calhoun Township. Kersten, Edward F. 12 Apr 1930 (his father) 4. 1940 US Census; Iowa; Harrison County; Calhoun Township. Kersten, Edward F. 15 Apr 1940 (his father) 5. American Battle Monuments Commission 6. Cemetery records of Magnolia Cemetery, Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa, USA 7. de Jong, Ivo. 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'. Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004 8. Enlistment Record of Lloyd W. Kersten 9. Iowa, County Births, 1880–1935. Lloyd Wesley Kersten born 23 Jul 1921 at Calhoun Township, Harrison County, Iowa 10. Library of Congress Veterans History Project: James W. Hyland Collection (navigator on the Lloyd W. Kersten crew; documents training at Dyersburg, TN) 11. Nebraska Marriages, 1855–1995. Edward F. Kersten married Martha M. Schuelzky at Webster County, Nebraska on 24 Aug 1910. (his parents) 12. Ohio, County Marriages, 1789–1997. Lloyd W. Kersten married Helen Marie John at Franklin County, Ohio on 14 Mar 1944. 13. Schilling, Stephan Rolf. Location of photo showing B-17G 43-37877 going down (See the 487BG facebook thread started by John Whyte on 4 May 2016.) 14. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11154 15. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945 16. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Nationwide Gravesite Locator 17. U.S. War Department. 'World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel'. Washington, D.C., June 1946 18. World War I Draft Registration of Edward Frederick Kersten. 12 Sep 1918 (his father) Research by: Paul Webber Secretary, 487th Bomb Group Association Find A Grave member ID 47577572

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is 1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten's memorial?
1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten's memorial is located at: Campbells Hill Cemetery, Maitland, Maitland City, Australia.
When did 1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten death?
1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten death on 30 Nov 1944 in Theissen, Burgenlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Where are the coordinates of the 1LT Lloyd Wesley Kersten's memorial?
Latitude: -32.7252090
Longitude: 151.5368990

Family Members:

Parent

Edward Frederick Kersten

(1885 - 1942)

Martha Marie Schuelzky Kersten

(1885 - 1977)

Spouse

Helen Marie John House

(1923 - 2001)

Siblings

Kenneth Schuelzky Kersten

(1912 - 1984)

Karol Edward Kersten

(1917 - 2002)

Lois Martha Kersten Field

(1918 - 2013)

Lauren Ellis Kersten

(1923 - 1981)

Charles Frederick Kersten

(1926 - 2010)

Children

Connie Lou Kersten O'Gara

(1944 - 1991)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Campbells Hill Cemetery
Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7252090, 151.5368990

2. Rutherford Catholic Columbarium
Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7205475, 151.5307788

3. Maitland Uniting Church Cemetery
Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7297900, 151.5524750

4. Maitland Anglican Columbarium
Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7345690, 151.5522860

5. St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery
Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7337387, 151.5590298

6. Rutherford General Cemetery
Rutherford, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7098370, 151.5146950

7. Maitland Jewish Cemetery
South Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7486740, 151.5565280

8. Oakhampton Cemetery
Oakhampton, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7046690, 151.5646450

9. St. Peter's Anglican Church Columbarium
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7494510, 151.5818040

10. Glebe Cemetery
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7577880, 151.5769380

11. St. Stephen's Presbyterian Columbarium
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7548608, 151.5833282

12. Lone Graves
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7520550, 151.5864370

13. Hiland Crescent Cemetery
Tenambit, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7417470, 151.5960440

14. Bishops Bridge Anglican Cemetery
Bishops Bridge, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7415360, 151.4760780

15. East Maitland Cemetery
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7541000, 151.6034000

16. Lang Family Graves
Bolwarra Heights, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.6875500, 151.5998700

17. East Maitland War Cemetery
East Maitland, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7554030, 151.6086630

18. Lochinvar Catholic Cemetery
Lochinvar, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7005120, 151.4554460

19. Lochinvar Anglican Cemetery
Lochinvar, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.6979450, 151.4562280

20. St. James' Churchyard
Morpeth, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7268730, 151.6238760

21. Morpeth General Cemetery
Morpeth, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7340330, 151.6244150

22. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery
Morpeth, Maitland City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.7269700, 151.6336700

23. Buttai Price Cemetery
Buttai, Cessnock City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.8168790, 151.5601810

24. Elliott Family Cemetery
Kurri Kurri, Cessnock City, Australia
Coordinate: -32.8193420, 151.5607310