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name
RICE, Thomas Lee - Date of
birth
4 June 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi -
Hometown
Lauderdale County, Mississippi
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14185624 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
576th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 March 1944 - Place of
death
Riddinghausen-Ennepo, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 27 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry W. Rice (father)
Etta L. (Francis) Rice (mother)
Patsy A. Rice (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-99976 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Pocatello Chief
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
MACR: 3184
More information
S/Sgt Thomas L. Rice attended Meridian High School.He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1942.
Eyewitness records from returning 392nd crews stated this aircraft had peeled off after the bomb run with bomb bay doors open and falling behind at 1118 hours. The ship was last seen at 1128 hours at position 51-51 N, 10-20 E, apparently under control with no parachutes having been observed. German report, #KU1195 recorded the finding of this crashed aircraft and all 10 crewmembers who had perished. Time of downing was listed as 1215 hours on this mission date, At a location given as Riddinghausen-Ennepo District Ruhr. An enemy fighter was given as the cause of the plane's crash.
S/Sgt Rice was buried at Grave #154 in the Cemetery for POWs in Dortmund.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com