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Personal info

Full name
HANNA, Thomas L
Date of birth
1925
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Oklahama
Hometown
Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Military service

Service number
18163736
Rank
Corporal
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 February 1945
Place of death
Near Vienna, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 2 53

Immediate family

Members
Farley T. Hanna (father)
Willie I. Hanna (mother)
Rayford E. Hanna (brother)
Virdie M. Hanna (sister)
Yoonde E. Hanna (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52036
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Vienna, Austria
MACR: 12090

More information

Cpl Thomas L. Hanna attended Central High School for 4 years.

He joined the Regular Army in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 14 October 1943.

Statement from 2nd Lt Albert D. Sherman Jr.:
"I was the Pilot of a B-24 Liberator Aircraft which flew in the fourth position of the formation on 7 February 1945 with B-24 Liberator Aircraft number 42-52036 piloted by 2nd Darrell M. Burk, flying number five position, and B-24 Liberator Aircraft number 42-52440, piloted by 2nd Lt Paul D. Holst, flying number six position. While over the target Lt Holst received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay of his ship, causing it to burst in flames. He rallied right and in doing so crashed into Lt Burk’s aircraft. It appeared as if Lt Burk tried to avoid a collision, but to no avail. When the ships collided a few bombs were dropped from Lt Burk’s ship. After the collision the two ships remained together until Lt Burk’s ship barrel-rolled earthward out of my view and Lt Holst’s ship disintegrated."

He was first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery St. Avold, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Jac Engels, Central High School