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Personal info

Full name
VAN OVER, Thomas L
Date of birth
18 November 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Bangor, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Oxford County, Maine

Military service

Service number
O-791742
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
495th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 February 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Viersen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 36 53

Immediate family

Members
Robert W. Van Over (father)
Jennie Van Over (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107698
Data
Type: B-26C-45
Destination: Viersen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a communication center
MACR: 12612

More information

Thomas L. Van Over graduated from Syracuse University in 1941.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United Statest in Portland, Maine on 17 December 1941 and received his wings in August 1942. He was overseas in January 1944.

The aircraft was hit by flak in the right wing while on the bomb run in the target area. The right wing had been completely shot off. The aircraft flipped over and went down in a spin and was out of control. All six crew members were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, The Shield of Phi Kappa PSI - January 1946

Photo source: Peter Schouteten