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Personal info

Full name
RAUGHT, Thomas Earl
Date of birth
24 August 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
New Kensington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
13187885
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
27 December 1944
Place of death
Arenberg-Koblenz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William E. Raught (father)
Catherine A. Raught (mother)
William Raught (brother)
Jack Raught (brother)
Rita Raught (sister)
Pauline Raught (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107083
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Altenahr, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 11248

More information

S/Sgt Thomas E. Raught was a chauffeur before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 14 August 1943.

The squadron didn't hit the primary target but attacked the secondary target, which was the marshalling yards in Koblenz.

A flak burst hit behind the ball turret and completely disengaged the tail assembly from the rest of the airplane. After the tail section broke off, the airplane plunged to earth.

Seven crew members were killed, and two men were taken prisoner.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, http://www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Dave Hansen, www.nkasd.com - Homecoming WWII Pdf