Rowland Gipson Thornton Jr

Military

Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. 49 x combat missions. Managed to bring battle damaged B-26 41-31875 back from ramrod to Abbeville, to crash land at Eastbourne, half his crew had baled out due to the damaged state of his A/C. 28-Feb-44. MACR 15197.

Failed to Return (FTR) from bombing mission to Zudausques, France in B-26 41-31849. Hit by flak over target in port engine and wing. fell out of formation going into a tight spin, ending with explosion on impact. Killed in Action (KIA). 20-Mar-44. MACR 2845.



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

322nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-31849

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group
The wreck of a B-26 Marauder (ER-P, serial number 41-31875) of the 450th Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, 6 March 1944. Official caption on image: "(GAD-115-1-475vG)(6-Mar-44)(A/C 41-31875 - B26 - 450BS/322BG - Battle Damage/Crash Landing)." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Howard Posson. ER-P. Smile Again Operator.'

41-31875

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Lady Liberty
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Albany, NY, USA 31 December 1941

Other

Ramrod to Abbeville

80100 Abbeville, France 28 February 1944 Ramrod to Abbeville 28-Feb-44. MACR 15197. Hit by flak, severe damage.

Other

Severely combat damaged

Eastbourne, UK 28 February 1944 Managed to bring battle damaged B-26 41-31875 back from ramrod to Abbeville, to crash land at Eastbourne, half his crew had baled out due to the damaged state of his A/C. 28-Feb-44. MACR 15197.

Died

62500 Zudausques, France 20 March 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) from bombing mission to Zudausques, France in B-26 41-31849. Hit by flak over target in port engine and wing. fell out of formation going into a tight spin, ending with explosion on impact. KIA. 20-Mar-44. MACR 2845.

Buried

62500 Zudausques, France 21 March 1944 Interred Zudausques cemetery.

Born

Schenectady County, NY, USA Son of Rowland G Snr and Margaret Thormton.

Based

Andrews Field 20 March 1944 Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Re-Interred Arlington National Cemetery

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/83523269_rowland_g%20thornton%20jr/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/28741715
https://www.fold3.com/image/224616352/?terms=Rowland%20G%20Thornton
Michigan on the March: The University of Michigan in World War II By Brian A. Williams
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmpilot.asp?Pilot=Thornton%2C+R…
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15420229

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/83523269_rowland_g%20thornton%20jr/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/28741715
https://www.fold3.com/image/224616352/?terms=Rowland%20G%20Thornton
Michigan on the March: The University of Michigan in World War II By Brian A. Williams
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15420229