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name
THRASHER, Jack White - Date of
birth
22 September 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Richmond County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-825003 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 March 1945 - Place of
death
2 km south of Dettum, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 20 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas L. Thrasher (father)
Mattie (White) Thrasher (mother)
Thomas L. Thrasher (brother)
Helen F. Thrasher (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8220 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 12892
More information
1st Lt Jack W. Thrasher graduated from John Marshall High School in 1940. He attended Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia for one year and Georgia Tech for one year. He worked in a bakery.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Atlanta, Georgia on 25 June 1942.
The aircraft was attacked by one of six enemy jet fighters which made a pass at the formation at 1018 hours over the target just before bombs away. The #1 engine was hit and burst into flames. Bomb bay doors were closed and the aircraft slid away to the left. The left wing was shot off and the aircraft flipped over on its back and exploded. The fuselage broke at the waist door and both wings fell away.
Three crew members were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Dettum, six were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Michel Becker, www.100thbg.com, Georgia Tech 1942, The Richmond News Leader - 26 June 1945