David L Thomas
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Lt. David L. Thomas was my great uncle and I now own his effects.
Object Number - UPL 32598 - Lt. David L. Thomas stands on the left with another unidentified officer, photo was probably taken at Pyote, Texas while in training.
KIA near Schieben in B-17 #448704. March 19, 1945, Glen Wallace wrote in his diary, "What a screwed-up mission! Briefed to hit Rhuland, but didn't. Made a run over it and caught pretty accurate flak. Then we made a run on a secondary and caught
DFC, Air Medal w 3/olc and Purple Heart
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
19 March 1945 | ||
|
Born |
West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA | ||
|
Buried |
Belgium | ||
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Germany | 19 March 1945 |
Revisions
Based off his surviving Ike Jacket and his citation which read:
For extraordinary achievement while serving as the formation controller of group plane formation on bombing missions against the enemy, Leut. Thomas demonstrated outstanding airmanship while serving at the formation controller on successful attacks against Augsburg, Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany on January 14th, February 3d, and February 7th, 1945, despite adverse weather and heavy and accurate flak. The ingenuity, skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieut. Thomas contributed a large degree to the success of these missions.
His actions always reflected the highest credit to himself and the Army Air Force.”
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13571 / MACR 13571; Snetterton Falcons, pg 187, 238, 245 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
