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name
THOOS, Richard Hargrove - Date of
birth
19 July 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Missouri -
Hometown
Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38326486 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 February 1944 - Place of
death
Boulogne, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur C. Thoos (father)
Stella R. (Hargrove) Thoos (mother)
Robert N. Thoos (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38121 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Exact location is not known, France
Mission: Bombing of V-1 launch sites
MACR: 2882
More information
Sgt Richard H. Thoos attended Kiefer High School and was employed at Bartlett-Collins Glass Company.He enlisted on 28 December 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The group took part in a bombing raid, targeting various V-1 launch sites across the French coast (Operation Noball).
The aircraft received a direct hit from enemy anti-aircraft fire at the waist windows, knocking off the tail. The front portion of the aircraft went straight down and was seen to crash in a wooded area, in the vicinity of the target. The airplane exploded upon hitting the ground in the city of Boulogne.
Eight crew members were killed, while two men survived and were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com,MACR, www.ancestry.com - Ott Family Tree
Photo source: FOHF, www.ancestry.com - Buddy Wonka