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Personal info

Full name
LITTLE, Thomas C
Date of birth
1918
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Petersburg, Lincoln County, Tennessee
Hometown
Montgomery County, Alabama

Military service

Service number
6382133
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 March 1945
Place of death
Wesel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 19 5

Immediate family

Members
William S. Little (father)
Ida M. (Ledford) Little (mother)
Mary Little (sister)
Ben Little (brother)
Fred Little (brother)
Paul Little (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-40245
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Skerby
Destination: Wesel, Germany
MACR: 13536

More information

T/Sgt Thomas C. Little joined the Regular Army in July 1935. For seven years, he served as a printer at Maxwell Field in the reproduction department before the war broke out. After the start of the war, he received training at Lowery Field, Colorado; Wright Field, Ohio; Laredo, Texas; and Walla Walla, Washington. He was sent overseas in November 1944. Sgt Little was on his 18th mission when the following event transpired.

Eyewitness account:
"Aircraft 44-40245 was flying at eleven o’clock in relation to the aircraft in which I was flying. All of a sudden, the aircraft nosed up, turned right, pulled up, and then dove nose down into the ground. The plane was intact prior to hitting the ground, and as far as I could see was not on fire. As soon as the aircraft nosed into the ground, it exploded and was completely enveloped in flames. I am quite sure that it had dropped its supplies as the bomb bay doors were closed. I saw no one leave the wreckage."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Kathy McDermott, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, ancestry.com - 1920 census / Family Trees  - sharrieh1

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, The Montgomery Advertiser - 17 April 1945/17 April 1946