Chester C. Poole, US Army (USAAC)

This is a tribute to Chester C. Poole-a native of El Dorado, Arkansas. I did not personally know him or his family, but I have had the privilege to get to know about him through my work at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum. Chester Poole served honorably in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1944. He was trained as a bombardier at San Angelo Army Air Field before being shipped overseas to engage in the air war over Europe. Once there, he served as a bombardier on B-24 Liberators. On September 27, 1944 Chester Poole died when his Liberator (Special Delivery II) collided with another aircraft on the Liberator’s return from a bombing mission over Kassel, Germany. He was an incredible young man- a humble hero. We owe him and so many other Americans in uniform a debt we can never repay.