Thomas P Fravega

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

The crews temporarily transferred to the 98th Bomb Group at Lete were those of Lt. Smith, Lt. Ellis, Lt. Opsata, Lt. Salyer and Lt. Fravega. The 98th Bomb Group had more airplanes than available crews while the 389th Bomb Group had extra crews. (During research, it became apparent that Lt. Fravega's crew flew the difficult Ploesti raid as their first mission. This was the only mission they flew from Africa.)



Shot down 1-Dec-43 in B-24 42-72876. Killed in Action (KIA).



Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.

389th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Anthony Thomas Fravega

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34187883
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

James David Gabehart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36060147
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Eric Floyd Hurt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14150402
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Robert Wrenn Lenaghan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35528813
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

John Joseph Long

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13050921 / O-673600
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

42-72876

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lucky Tiger
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Shelby County, TN 27 December 1916

Enlisted

Fort Oglethorpe, GA 8 January 1941 Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Walloon Brabant, Belgium 1 December 1943 Shot down 1-Dec-43 in B-24 42-72876. Killed in Action (KIA).

Buried

Calvary Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, TN Calvary Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97813476/thomas-p.-fravega

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/310763348
https://www.fold3.com/record/87651739/thomas-p-fravega-wwii-army-enlist…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97813476/thomas-p.-fravega

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

http://www.lipper.cc/8th_AF/Chris/Chris_Chapt3.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2500 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database