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name
MIZE, Thomas Neal "Tom" - Date of
birth
1 January 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
St. Louis, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-773427 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
715th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 August 1944 - Place of
death
Ludwigshafen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 36 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas H. Mize (father)
Elizabeth M. (Wood) Mize (mother)
David W. Mize (brother)
Margaret E. Mize (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95134 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Chemical Plant
MACR: 8469
More information
Lt. Thomas N. Mize attended Clayton High School, where he was president of the Student Council.Eyewitness account:
"He was the bombardier on our aircraft when it was struck directly by enemy flak. We were struck while on a course of approximately 180 Degrees, about 1 1/2 minutes from our primary target at Ludwigshafen, Germany. The aircraft was severed between station five and six just aft of the Sperry ball turret. At this time, all crew members were at battle stations. Myself, the tail gunner, and one waist gunner were able to parachute from the freely spinning tail section of the aircraft. The other portion of the craft crashed out of control after both the pilot and the Co-pilot made an escape. I witnessed the burning of the craft while falling in my parachute, but was taken prisoner immediately upon reaching the ground."
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, www.newspapers.com - Family Trees
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, www.ancestry.com - Clayton High School Yearbook 1942