Thomas Walter Cavanagh

Military

Assigned to 549BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Rostock in B-17 42-30197 'Mission Belle', hit by flak on bomb run 11-Apr-44. Landed in Kristianopel, Sweden. Interned.



Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17064872 / O-803669
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Corporal John E. Burkey and Corporal Paul G. Huston of the 385th Bomb Group paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30168) nicknamed "Mission Belle". Passed for publication 10 Oct 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230168.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortresses In Combat Missions Over Europe. Picture Shows:- Cpl. John E. Burkey, Philadelphia, Pa., and Cpl. Paul G. Huston, Lingure, Pa.; doing a bit of painting on Fortress "Mission Belle" - the ship of 1/Lt. Wayne Horr, A
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mission Belle
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York 7 March 1920 Son of John Martin Cavanagh.

Enlisted

New York City, NY 4 April 1942 New York City, New York

Other

Interned (INT)

Kristianopel, Sweden 11 April 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Rostock in B-17 42-30197 'Mission Belle', hit by flak on bomb run 11-Apr-44. Landed in Kristianopel, Sweden. Interned.

Other

Discharged USAAF

5 November 1945 Honourable discharge

Died

Red Bank, NJ 27 July 1984

Based

Interned (INT)

Great Ashfield 11 April 1944 Assigned to 549BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3822 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database