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name
GRISSOM, Thomas Jarvis Jr - Date of
birth
15 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Warren Vance County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34467488 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
338th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 October 1944 - Place of
death
Roxel, near Münster, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 23 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas J. Grissom Jr. (father)
Ada L. (Wynn) Grissom (mother)
Claude Grissom (brother)
Graham Grissom (brother)
Eunice Grissom (sister)
Calvin Grissom (brother)
Elizabeth Grissom (sister)
Sydney Grissom (brother)
Robert Grissom (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107022 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: In the Mood
Destination: Munster, Germany
Mission: Combat
MACR: 9514
More information
T/Sgt Thomas J. Grissom Jr. enlisted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 13 December 1942.He served at Keesler Field, Miss.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; England, Italy; Russia and was killed over Germany. He attended Aycock High School.
A/C 022 was hit in the right wing by AA shell starting a fire immediately after bombs away. Three chutes were seen to leave A/C after catching fire, and landing in target area. Ship seemed to be under control going down. Returning crews opinions are that the entire crew of stricken a/c had plenty of time and opportunity to escape from it. 96B was originally scheduled to fly as high group in 45A Combat Wing, but it assumed the lead at the coast in to the target.
According to the Ball Turret Gunner, T/Sgt Grissom was killed by flak at his battle station.
S/Sgt Jack A. Miller, T/Sgt Thomas J. Grissom Jr. and S/Sgt Jack I. Milward didn’t survive and were buried, together with an unidentified soldier at Fefangen, cemetery Haus Spital B. at Münster, Grave no. 24/28 on 6 October 1944.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Family Tree / 1930-1940 Census / WWII Young American Patriots, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - WWII Young American Patriots