Thomas Francis Jeffers

Military
media-17335.png UPL 17335 Thomas Francis Jeffers (via his daughter, Marilyn Jeffers Walton)

added photo

Object Number - UPL 17335 - Thomas Francis Jeffers (via his daughter, Marilyn Jeffers Walton)

2nd Lt. Thomas F. Jeffers, bombardier, was shot down on 18 June 1944 on his 3rd mission. B-24 was named 'Rhapsody in Junk'. Was Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft III for 7 months and was a POW at Stalag VIIA for 3 more months. He was liberated from 7A on 29 April 1945. Spent 29 1/2 years in the AF, retiring as lieutenant colonel. Worked in Procurement on guidance systems for various missiles such as Titan and Atlas, also on production of conventional munitions.



The Great War For Civilization Medal; Air Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Military Merit; American Campaign; WW II victory Medal; POW Medal, Armed Forces Reserve; National Defense Medal; EAME Medal

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-860086
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19116172 and O-761871
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38367896
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39693927
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34509333
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group prepare to board their B-24 Liberator, (serial number 41-28733) nicknamed "Rhapsody in Junk", for a mission, whilst ground crew refuel the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], ' Passed for publication 28 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '317857.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: ROUND THE CLOCK BOMBERS. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: As the ground crew refuels, the crew of a Liberator at a U.S. Bomber Base " somewhere in England"
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brockton, Massachusetts, United States 1 February 1921

Enlisted

New York, NY, USA 1 September 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

POW (Prisoner of War)

Zagan, Poland 18 June 1944 - 29 April 1945 Captured in Kappeln, near Schleswig, Germany, on 18 June 1944 at 10:00am. Interned at Stalag Luft 3 and evacuated to Stalag 7A on the forced march that started on 27 January 1945. Stalag 7A in Moosburg was liberated by the US 14th Armored Division on 29 April 1945. Tom Jeffers boarded the "Marine Dragon" and docked at Boston, Massachusetts on 11 June 1945.

Died

Oxford, Ohio, United States 24 June 2004

Buried

Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield, Ohio, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Corrections sent through to the American Air Museum by Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.

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ContributorED-BB
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photo

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added photo

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Added photo

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deleted connections

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ContributorED-BB
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Added photo

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ContributorED-BB
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Corrected typo in "POW" event text

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ContributorED-BB
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Daughter Marilyn's info
MACR 5908
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records

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ContributorRhapsody
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Marilyn Jeffers Walton - daughter

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ContributorRhapsody
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Marilyn Jeffers Walton daughter

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self/daughter Marilyn Walton & Page 277of the book LIBERATORS OVER EUROPE by Mackay, Bailey & Scorza, D790G458 &  458bg.com - crew picture in Newell's crew in 754th BS

Thomas Francis Jeffers: Gallery (2 items)