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name
THUMLERT, Daniel Adam Jr - Date of
birth
3 July 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Castor, Alberta, Canada -
Hometown
King County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-925984 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Ketzin, south of Nauen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 22 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Daniel A. Thumlert Sr. (father)
Lydia Thumlert (mother)
Gustave Thumlert (brother)
Emil Thumlert (brother)
Arnold Thumlert (brother)
Betty J. Thumlert (sister)
Deloiet L. (White) Thumlert (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6480 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Derben
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11826
More information
1st Lt Daniel A. Thumlert Jr. graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1934 and attended the University of Washington. He was employed at General Petroleum Corporation.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve as an aviation cadet at Santa Ana Army Air Force Base, California, on 23 February 1943.
The aircraft was lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft.
Seven crew members were killed. Six of them were initially buried at the community cemetery of Ketzin: Taylor, Lynch, Bone, Kelly, Firof and one unknown (which must have been the pilot Thumlert). The fate of Zito is unknown.
Two crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Roosevelt High School 1934, University of Washington 1937