Memorial

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S/Sgt Harry F. Thomas attended high school for 4 years.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Erie, Pennsylvania on 1 May 1942.

The airplane came under intense fire and the pilot, Lt Joseph Gualano, was forced to make an emergency landing in St. Trond, Belgium.
The only casualty was S/Sgt Thomas, who was killed at his waist gun position.

Lt Gualano recalled the following:
"Although our aircraft sustained battle damage on many occasions and even survived a mid-air collision, our luck held until 2nd November 1944, on our 31st mission. As we turned onto the bomb run of our target, we received severe damage from a flak burst.
Sgt Thomas was struck in the head and died instantly.
In addition to losing our #2 and #3 engines, we lost all electrical power, the oxygen system to the rear of the aircraft, radio and inter-communications systems and rudder control. Sgt Butler (Flight Engineer) managed to splice the rudder control cable during our return to friendly territory.
By disposing of all guns and dropping the ball turret, we were able to return as far as St. Trond, Belgium, and land at an airfield which had just been liberated from the Germans.
During the long slow return flight to Belgium, we were alone. Three ME-163 rocket powered fighters made a pass at us without firing a shot.
We were very fortunate to land without any further incidents.
This was Harry's 31st combat mission."