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Personal info

Full name
PETERS, Thomas Aquinas
Date of birth
17 February 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
T-129459
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Navigator
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
Florisdorf, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 6 12

Immediate family

Members
John G. Peters (father)
Anna (Welch) Peters (mother)
Charles Peters (brother)
Mary Peters (sister)
Anne Peters (sister)
Helen E. Peters (sister)
Louise M. Peters (sister)
William J. Peters (brother)
Benjamin F. Peters (brother)
James Peters (brother)
Dolores Peters (sister)
Raymond Peters (brother)
Catherine Peters (sister)
Sarah Peters (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52440
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Calamity Jane
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the refineries
MACR: 12091

More information

2nd Lt. Albert D. Sherman Jr:
"While over the target Lt. Holst received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay of his ship, causing it to burst into 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".

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Brownsville High School "On The Moon" 1942 Yearbook