Memorial

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Thomas Butler graduated from Graham High School and attended John Tarleton Agricultural College where he played football.

Re-grouping still had not been completed and Lt L.C. Page' plane and crew would become the 5th loss for the 91st Bomb Group. Lt Page was flying the B-17 'Chief Sly's Son' in the 2nd element of the Lead Squadron. Troubles began during severe attacks about 20 minutes prior to the target. 20mm shells started a small fire, apparently in the left wing fuel tank. The fire remained quite small until after the target, when the formation lowered altitude by about 2000 feet. Then the fire enlarged, probably due to increase in the atmosphere's oxygen supply. Enemy aircraft then scored more hits and controles became sluggish. At that time the engineer, Sgt Arthur R. Ginder, was probably killed. Bailing began at about 1500 feet and 6 men bailed out successfully. Lt Page, Lt Stevenson and Co-Pilot Lt Thomas C. Butler Jr. were preparing to bail via the nose hatch when the plane exploded in the air. Page and Stevenson were blown clear, but apparently Butler was blown further back into the plane. He and Sgt Ginder did not survive the crash. The plane crashed at 12:45 hours at Schemde near Steinfeld, about 10 miles northwest of Dummer lake.