Name | Thoma, Edward Paul ‡ |
Rank | Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant |
Serial Number | O-693486 ‡ |
Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 546th Bomb Squadron morning report dated 21 March 1944, effective 18 March 1944. |
Duty | Co-pilot / Pilot |
MOS | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 |
Last Duty Date | 20 June 1944 |
Results |
Killed In Action Final Resting Place or Memorial: Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia: Section 12, Grave 1256 |
Decorations | The Distinguished Flying Cross awarded posthumously to Edward P. Thoma for extraordinary achievement. |
Citation For Higher Decoration | EDWARD P. THOMA, O-693486, FIRST LIEUTENANT, Air Corps, United States Army.
For extraordinary achievement while serving as Deputy Leader of a Bombardment Group of B-17 aircraft on a bombing mission over Germany, 20 June 1944. On this date, the lead aircraft of the group in which Lieutenant Thoma was flying was forced to leave the formation. Demonstrating outstanding skill, Lieutenant Thoma assumed the lead of the group and directed the formation through an excellent turn at the Initial Point. In spite of heavy flak Lieutenant Thoma refused to take evasive action which might have interfered with the accuracy of the bombing and continued straight and level over the target. Fragments of anti-aircraft fire from a shell bursting directly below his aircraft penetrated the fuselage, killing Lieutenant Thoma almost instantly. The courage, coolness and devotion to duty displayed by this officer reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of The United States. Entered military service from Pennsylvania.
Citation Source: Headquarters, 1st Bombardment Division, General Orders #176 dated 18 July 1944 |
Additional Information |
|
Related Documents | Accident Report # 44-05-01-505⇓ (1.558 MB) |
Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
---|---|---|
2nd Lt. Gekakis, Anthony⇗ | Pilot | CT |
2nd Lt. Thoma, Edward Paul | Co-pilot | KIA |
2nd Lt. Simmons, Wilbur (NMI)⇗ | Navigator | CT |
2nd Lt. Dolson, Henry James, "HANK"⇗ | Navigator | FCMEW |
S/SGT. Zinninger, William Maynard⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | CT |
S/SGT. Wilson, John Franklin⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
SGT. Ticknor, Edward Charles⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
SGT. Connolly, William Edward, Jr, "Bill"⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | CT |
SGT. Tucker, Clifton Roland⇗ | Tail Gunner | CT |
SGT. McDonald, Edward William⇗ | Flexible Gunner | CT |
Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
83⇗ | 27 March 1944 |
Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Tours & Chartres, France |
Co-pilot | 42‑37776⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41 Squadron. Sortie Report⇗ |
84⇗ | 28 March 1944 |
Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dijon, France |
Co-pilot | 42‑37776⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
85⇗ | 29 March 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑97251⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back at 1215 hrs because he could not locate the Group due to bad weather. Sortie Report⇗ |
86⇗ | 9 April 1944 |
Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Marienburg, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑97251⇗ |
Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off This aircraft did not take off. Crew did not transfer to a Spare Aircraft. Sortie Report⇗ |
88⇗ | 11 April 1944 |
Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Sorau, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑37776⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Flying Spare Aircraft; joined formation. Sortie Report⇗ |
89⇗ | 13 April 1944 |
Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑31222⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back at 1157 hrs because #1 engine was running rough and smoking. Sortie Report⇗ |
90⇗ | 18 April 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑107083⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Landed away at Attlebridge Airfield, AAF Station 120, on return due to low fuel. Sortie Report⇗ |
92⇗ | 20 April 1944 |
Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France |
Co-pilot | 42‑107074⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit A Wing, High Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
93⇗ | 22 April 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑107083⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron deputy, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |
96⇗ | 27 April 1944 |
Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France |
Co-pilot | 42‑97510⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
98⇗ | 29 April 1944 |
Target: Industrial District Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑97510⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
-- | 1 May 1944 |
None Non-combat sortie |
Co-pilot | 42‑107074⇗ |
Aircraft landed a short distance before the runway pavement. Due to uneven surface ahead of the runway, the right main landing gear was damaged upon striking the runway edge. Shortly after, the right main gear collapsed, causing a ground loop, and some damage to aircraft. No crew were injured. Sortie Report⇗ |
101⇗ | 7 May 1944 |
Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑97139⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off High Squadron lead, low group. Turned back due to crew illness; Sortie Report⇗ |
105⇗ | 11 May 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany |
Co-pilot | 42‑97273⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
115⇗ | 25 May 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France |
Pilot | 42‑102500⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
116⇗ | 27 May 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑102500⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
119⇗ | 29 May 1944 |
Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland |
Pilot | 42‑97251⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
120⇗ | 30 May 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97139⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
122⇗ | 2 June 1944 |
Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France |
Pilot | 42‑97072⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
124⇗ | 3 June 1944 |
Target: Coastal Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Le Touquet, France |
Pilot | 42‑97142⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
126⇗ | 5 June 1944 |
Target: Field Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: La Fosse, France |
Pilot | 42‑102601⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
128⇗ | 6 June 1944 |
Target: Two Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France |
Pilot | 42‑97139⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit J Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
130⇗ | 7 June 1944 |
Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France |
Pilot | 42‑102620⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
131⇗ | 8 June 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France |
Pilot | 42‑31222⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41D Group, Group Deputy. Ground Spare aircraft, replaced 42‑97139. Bombed Primary Target. Sortie Report⇗ |
139⇗ | 19 June 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France |
Pilot | 42‑97273⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41A Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
140⇗ | 19 June 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France |
Pilot | 42‑38014⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
141⇗ | 20 June 1944 |
Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany |
Pilot | 42‑102933⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Group Deputy. Assumed lead after Stallings aborted; Thoma (pilot) killed by flak over target, co-pilot and navigator seriously wounded. Sortie Report⇗ |