Thomas Ira Walsh

Military
media-48430.jpeg UPL 48430 SSGT Thomas Ira Walsh
Gunner
416th BG - 670th BS - 9th AF
KIA when his A-20G crashed near Biggin Hill on 20 May 1944

Object Number - UPL 48430 - SSGT Thomas Ira Walsh Gunner 416th BG - 670th BS - 9th AF KIA when his A-20G crashed near Biggin Hill on 20 May 1944

Connections

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

Units served with

An A-26 Invader (F6-P, serial number 43-22330) nicknamed "For Pete's Sake" of the 416th Bomb Group prepares for take-off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '416 BG Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-736223
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Combat Bomb Wing 416th Bomb Group Headquarters (416th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-17955
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Group Commander - Wing Commander

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: La France Libre, Miss Laid
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 670th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Boomerang
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 670th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 670th Bomb Squadron
B-26 Marauders, including (serial number 43-9701) of the 416th Bomb Group fly in formation.
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Cille
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 670th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, IL 17 May 1913
Chicago, IL 16 October 1940 4657 N. Western Avenue

Other

First 416th BG Combat Mission

Bernay, France 4 March 1944

Died

near Biggin Hill, UK 19 May 1944 On the return trip home, flying through a thick overcast, Lt Joseph Crispino's plane spun out of control. He oerdered his two gunners, S/Sgt Thomas I. Walsh and S/Sgt Royden E. Conopask to bail out. Then he jumped himself. The two gunners never did get out and were killed when the plane crashed. Lt Crispino parachuted to earth with a leg fractured when his body was thrown against the plane's tail assembly. He was transferred to an Evacuation Hospital to convalesce. The remains of the two gunners have been interred at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge. ... [September, 1944] Lt Joseph C. Crispino and Lt Robert J. Rooney, who had been confined to hospitals as a result of injuries received on missions, returned to join their old squadrons after months of absence. The following was taken from the 670 Bomb Squadron record: "Sadness descended upon the organization on May 19th, when, after 369 sorties without loss, the squadron was deprived of two of its best known and best liked members. SSgt Royden E. Conopask, of Bristol, Connecticut and SSgt Thomas I. Walsh of Chicago, Illinois, two veteran gunners were killed in action returning from a raid on the Bennerville Costal Defense Batteries. The ship, piloted by Lt. Crispino, went into a spin at 5,000 feet over Biggenhill, England. Lt. Crispino was able to bail out and parachute to safety. He was injured in the descent and hospitalized. However, SSgt Conopask amd SSgt Walsh were unable to get out the aircraft and met death with its crash. The loss of these two men was keenly felt by the organization. They had been among the first gunners assigned to the squadron after its activation." The remains of the two gunners were interred at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge.

Buried

24 May 1944 Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England Plot Plot E Row 2 Grave 98

Thomas Ira Walsh: Gallery (1 items)