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name
MC DONALD, Thomas Clayton - Date of
birth
30 January 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Onaway, Presque Isle County, Michigan -
Hometown
Onaway, Presque Isle County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16148114 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 April 1944 - Place of
death
4 miles north of Siegen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 18 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clayton McDonald (father)
Sadie (Dumaw) McDonald (mother)
Edmond McDonald (brother)
Edith McDonald (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37783 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dodie
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 4166
More information
S/Sgt Thomas C. Mc Donald graduated from Onaway High School and was a mechanic.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Detroit, Michigan on 20 October 1942.
The airplane was attacked by fighters who damaged #3 engine, and it began to lag behind. Witnesses saw the crew attempting to jettison equipment from the plane. It appears that all ten men did bail out although Sgt McDonald was badly wounded before leaving the ship. Some of the crew felt that Lt Harte and Lt Conley may have been killed by German civilians or soldiers after they landed.
Three crew members were killed, seven were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.basher82.nl, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Presque Isle Library - Mike Grulke