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name
GRIBBROCK, Thomas Henry - Date of
birth
2 July 1919 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Rochester, Monroe County, New York -
Hometown
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-703733 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
391st Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 October 1944 - Place of
death
Ludwigshafen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry Gribbrock (father)
Anna Gribbock (mother)
George A. Gribbrock (brother)
Henrietta Gribbrock (sister)
Helen M. (Schantz) Gribbrock (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38300 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mail Call
Destination: Mannheim, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a tractor plant
MACR: 9467
More information
Thomas Gribbock attended West High School in Rochester, New York.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Rochester, New york on 30 September 1942.
He was married to Helen Margaret Schantz on 30 December 1943.
The airplane received a direct flak hit in engine #2 and the wing tank, starting a fire. Crew members of others B-17s in the group saw a propeller and a cowling fall off. The Airplane peeled out of formation to the left under the formation and appeared still under control as it entered the clouds 2000 feet below the formation.
One crew member survived, nine men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com -West High School Yearbook 1937, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle