Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
RAY, Thomas Columbus - Date of
birth
17 March 1912 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee -
Hometown
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34280331 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
66th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1943 - Place of
death
Between Brual and Rhede, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 18 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Burton L. Ray (father)
Lilly M. (Byers) Ray (mother)
Leroy Ray (brother)
Burton Ray (brother)
Lena L. Ray (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24234 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Mr 5x5
Destination: Bremen Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1501
More information
S/Sgt Thomas C. Ray graduated from Central High School. He was employed as a salesman for Ditto Comp.He enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on 9 April 1942.
This B-24 and another one were flying in a tight formation when both hit prop wash from airplanes ahead. The other plane nosed up and the #4 engine and propeller chewed into the tail of Mr 5x5, tearing off the right stabilizer, fin, and rudder. Immediately it did half a wing over and started to go down in a slow spiral. As it lost altitude, it was seen to level off for a moment, and then the remainder of the tail assembly disintegrated. It went down and was seen to crash.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census
Photo source: Jac Engels