Memorial

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Sgt Thomas H. Cordes graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in June 1943.

He enlisted in Newark, New Jersey, on 5 April 1944 and was sent overseas in January 1945.

The MACR states that, “This aircraft was flying as number three in second squadron of a force re-supplying paratroopers, at very low altitude, in an area over 2 miles west-northwest of Wesel. At 1314 hours, this aircraft was observed to lose control momentarily. It struck the ground and came back up to about 100 feet, under control. It flew along for about 90 seconds, then the right wing dipped and struck the ground, causing it to pinwheel and hit the ground again. It disintegrated as it started to burn.” Sgt Richard V. Lynch stated, “I was flying nose gunner on Lt Lee’s aircraft, I-Bar 193. We were flying at approximately 300 feet and dropped our supplies at 1314 hours. Immediately after this, I noticed number four engine on R-Bar 896, Lt Chandler’s ship, begin to smoke and then noticed the plane hit the ground with its belly and bottom part of the rudders, then bounce up into the air and maintain level, controlled flight at approximately 100 feet – for about a minute and a half.“ The plane, then apparently out of control, banked sharply to the right with the right wing hitting the ground and continued to revolve to the right in a clockwise direction, pivoting on the right wing tip and ending up skidding along on its belly, 180 degrees to our path of flight. The plane started to burn immediately as it hit the ground, and I was unable to determine whether or not there were any survivors.”

In 1946, The V.F.W. Post in Oradell was named in his honor.