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name
THOMAS, Joseph Vincent Louis - Date of
birth
25 August 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Queretaro, Mexico -
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39272378 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Gunner -
Unit
599th Bombardment Squadron,
397th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 April 1945 - Place of
death
Peine, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 22 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Enriqueta Thomas (mother)
John A. Thomas (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-68148 -
Data
Type: B-26
Destination: Nienhagen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 14263
More information
S/Sgt Joseph V. L. Thomas enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 21 December 1942.The aircraft suffered a direct hit by heavy flak in the bomb bay. At the same time, it blew off the left wing and engine and about twelve feet of the tail was blown clear of the aircraft.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four were killed.
According to S/Sgt Doane, the pilot, Lt Starkey, was desperately trying to regain control of the aircraft after it was hit. S/Sgt Doane's last communication with Lt Starkey was when the pilot instructed him to go to the bomb bay and remove the safety pins from their bomb load.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: Peter Schouteten