Memorial

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William Thistlethwaite attended college.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Lochbourne Army Airbase, Ohio on 15 January 1942.

Statement from Capt William H. Cornell, who participated in the mission: "At 1045 Lt Thistlethwaite and myself made the initial attack on a bridge at Hasselt, Belgium. I led the element in on the deck, and we released our bombs (equipped with 45 second delaying fuse) and bounced back to altitude. I saw all four bombs go off when we were about three miles from target. Upon looking back I noticed Lt Thistlethwaite's plane was emitting a white smoke and I informed him of such. He said that he wasn't getting much power, so I gave him the heading home and started flying his wing. He said that his generator had failed later on. About five miles from the French coast, his ship stopped smoking, but he said that the engine was getting rough and oil pressure dropping. We made enemy landfall above Ostend and headed for Manston. About fifteen or twenty miles out in the channel he said he was getting out, which he did. I started circling and giving position reports to Air/Sea Rescue. Lt Thistlethwaite got into his dinghy and seemed to be in good condition. I circled and gave fixes for about one hour and fifteen minutes, at which time I had just enough fuel to get to Manston. I left, landed at Manston, gassed up, and returned to former position in channel. I saw two Air/Sea flying boats in the vicinity and about eleven fishing boats about four miles southeast, but was unable to find Lt Thistlethwaite. I searched for two hours and returned to base."