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name
WELCH, Thomas Kenneth - Date of
birth
14 November 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Torrance, Los Angeles County, California -
Hometown
Chico, Butte County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19041022 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 March 1945 - Place of
death
Slype-Middelkerke, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 28 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert K. Welch (father)
Jean M. (Johnsen) Welch (mother)
Loretta J. (Sauer) Welch (wife)
Thomas K. Welch Jr (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38273 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Sugar-Jo
Destination: Ulm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 16036
More information
S/Sgt Thomas Welch graduated from Chico High School in 1943.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 28 December 1943 in Presidio of Monterey, California.
The aircraft collided with airplane #42-38035 and both were totally destroyed.
Eight crew members were killed, one man survived.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / California Birth Index
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Tex*Oma / Roy Plog Collection