Thomas Adam Carruth

Military
media-32610.jpeg UPL 32610 "Queen Elizabeth greets crew members on Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 'Rose of York' just christened by Princess Elizabeth."

L-R: 1Lt Joseph Labore [St Paul, MN], 1Lt Ralph R Omon [Florence, CO], 2Lt Thomas A Carruth [Long Beach, CA].

Object Number - UPL 32610 - "Queen Elizabeth greets crew members on Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 'Rose of York' just christened by Princess Elizabeth." L-R: 1Lt Joseph Labore...

On 13-Sep-44 his aircraft was hit by flak on a mission to Merseberg, the damage took out two engines, and oil was leaking from a third.



The crew jettisoned their equipment and dropped their bombs to stay airborne, but they were soon forced to find a place to crash in Belgium.



The pilot and his and co-pilot were strapped in up front and the rest of the crew crouched down in the radio area at the back of the plane while they crash landed in Ciney, Belgium. A few members of the crew suffered minor injuries, unlike several of the fences they destroyed while going down.



Upon landing they discovered that the Germans had fortunately left the area five days earlier. The crew made their way to an Army hospital where their wounds were treated, then hitchhiked to Paris on a weapons carrier.



Awards: DSC, DFC, AM (3OLC), PH, GC, WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).



DSC Citation:



The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Thomas Adam Carruth (ASN: O-886936), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Lead Bombardier of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 526th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 13 September 1944, against enemy ground targets at Merseburg, Germany. On this date, Lieutenant Carruth's plane was struck by flak and although unhurt, he was thrown from his seat as he was synchronizing his bombsight on the target. Then, approximately twenty second before "Bombs Away," another burst of flak inflicted a serious wound in h is shoulder and again threw him from his seat to the rear end of the nose compartment. Completely disregarding the profuse bleeding from his painful wound, he crawled back to his bombsight and released his bombs directly on the target. After receiving first aid, despite the intense cold and pain, he (remainder of citation missing). His extraordinary heroism and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: Norwegian
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O 768081
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Everybody's Baby
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 13 September 1944
  • Official Description:

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Helena, AR 20 April 1916

Enlisted

6 January 1941

Died

12 February 1984

Buried

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA 17 February 1984 Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, California

Based

Kimbolton Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Draft registration record

Santa Monica, CA Employed by Douglas Aircraft Co. Ltd.

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Key Image ID.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, 1942-45; p. 163. / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Thomas Adam Carruth: Gallery (1 items)