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name
THAMES, Jack Mathew - Date of
birth
30 November 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Tennessee -
Hometown
Hamblen County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-723207 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
748th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
Burg Weimar, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Richard H. Thames (father)
Ollie V. Thames (mother)
Lura V. Thames (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97558 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Tis me Sugar
Destination: Weimar, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 8200
More information
Lt Jack M. Thames attended Tennessee Wesleyan College where he served as Vice President of his fraternity, was President of his Class of 1942, played varsity basketball and was selected as 'Most Individual' by his classmates.One report says that there were no fighters or flak and the plane simply left the formation and was not seen again.
Another report stated that it was hit by a lone fighter plane, lost two engines, went into a spin and later exploded at a lower altitude.
He is remembered at Logans Chapel Cemetery in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Tennessee Wesleyan College 1942, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), www.findagrave.com