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name
THOMAS, Gordon Hollis - Date of
birth
3 June 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Hudson, Summit County, Ohio -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35532630 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 14 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James W. Thomas (father)
Pearl E. (Delahunt) Thomas (mother)
Sherman J. Thomas (brother)
Vernon Thomas (brother)
More information
Sgt Gordon H. Thomas graduated from Shaker Heights High School and attended Ohio University.He enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio on 28 January 1943. He was sent overseas in March 1944 and had completed five missions with his squadron as a ball turret gunner.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
Sgt Thomas was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
His brother, Lt James Thomas, was stationed within five miles of Sgt Thomas' base and reported the fatal crash to his parents.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal,The Plain Dealer 30 May 1945, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal