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Personal info

Full name
DILTS, Thomas Bernard
Date of birth
20 March 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio
Hometown
Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
15322732
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
350th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 October 1943
Place of death
9 miles west of Hoya, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 16 14

Immediate family

Members
James H. Dilts (father)
Deebelle F. Dilts (mother)
James H. Dilts (brother)
Marian L. Dilts (sister)
Marjorie (Spatz) Dilts (wife)
Kathleen Dilts (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30840
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 951

More information

S/Sgt Thomas B. Dilts attended Brush High School and was an attendant at a filling station before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio on 1 October 1942.

The plane was hit by flak, causing severe damage.

Five crew members were killed, five were taken prisoner.

German records show that the five killed air men were initially buried at the cemetery of Hoya.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Cleveland Plain Dealer - 26 March 1944