Thomas Beauford Cole

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-52626.jpeg UPL 52626 Sgt Thomas B. Cole, 401BG.

USAAF photo

Object Number - UPL 52626 - Sgt Thomas B. Cole, 401BG.

Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 4 x combat missions with 401BG. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4586



From his brother:

"He was part of a crew on Ol' Massa when it was shot down over Germany on return back to England from a bombing raid. Three of the crew were taken as Prisoner of War (POW)'s, the other eight died and were buried in a common grave at the Prisoner of War (POW) camp until after the war. In 1946 the remains of the buried were brought to the Netherlands American Cemetery where they were identified by very sparse remaining ID items such a laundry tag number (as in my brother's case) and families notified. My parents chose to have my brother's remains buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.



No member of my family (8 siblings) had ever visited until last June 10, 2012, when my husband and I made a trip there. It is a beautiful cemetery and the family who adopted his grave could not have been more gracious, thankful, appreciative of all the Americans buried there. As they said, 'he is our hero'."



Awards: AM, PH.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14103271 / O-803232
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Massa
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Haughton, Louisiana 9 June 1922 Son of Hugh Eustace and Louise Cole.

Enlisted

Jacksonville, FL 6 January 1942 Jacksonville, Florida

Died

Balkum, Germany 8 May 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4586

Buried

Netherlands American Cemetery Re-Interred Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands Plot P Row 18 Grave 16

Based

Deenethorpe 8 May 1944 Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate records. Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1159 /
MACR 4586 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4586

Thomas Beauford Cole: Gallery (1 items)