Joseph Francis Thornton
Military
media-24732.png
UPL 24732
Caption : “Lt. Thornton and crew of the 92nd Bomb Group beside a Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress”. England, 15 November 1943.” (Official USAAF photo).
Note : Lt Thornton was shot down with his crew on the following day’s mission to Knaben, Norway on board B-17 “Flagship” # 42-29996 - Lt Thornton is standing, 5th from left top row and the only other identifiable man is Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Otto F. Trammer, 2nd from left top row.
The others are most probably Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Whitney M. Bray; Navigator 2nd Lt David C. Besbris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Arthur A. Carmell; Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John Geegee; Radio Operator T/Sgt Laurence E. Dennis; Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Charles H. Hartnett; Tail Gunner S/Sgt Rolland A. Galloway.
Four others are members of the ground crew. S/Sgt Dean Sommers 1st from left top row. T/Sgt Laurence Dennis 1st on right, top row
Note : Lt Thornton was shot down with his crew on the following day’s mission to Knaben, Norway on board B-17 “Flagship” # 42-29996 - Lt Thornton is standing, 5th from left top row and the only other identifiable man is Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Otto F. Trammer, 2nd from left top row.
The others are most probably Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Whitney M. Bray; Navigator 2nd Lt David C. Besbris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Arthur A. Carmell; Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John Geegee; Radio Operator T/Sgt Laurence E. Dennis; Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Charles H. Hartnett; Tail Gunner S/Sgt Rolland A. Galloway.
Four others are members of the ground crew. S/Sgt Dean Sommers 1st from left top row. T/Sgt Laurence Dennis 1st on right, top row
JWDennis
Shot down on 6 September 1943 as Co=Pilot in B-17 #42-29965. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. Shot down 16 November 1943 as Pilot of B-17 #42-29996 'Flagship'. Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17075179
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33225173
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 16 November 0943 | Interned at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. NARA WWII POW records "returned to Military control 26 June 1945". |
Born |
California, United States | 24 July 1915 | |
Enlisted |
Sacramento, California, United States | 1 February 1941 | |
Other rescued from ditched B-17 |
6 miles off the coast of Le Havre, France | 6 September 1943 | Was Co-Pilot on board of 42-29965, which went down in the Channel for lack of fuel on return from the Stuttgart mission. All ten men on board rescued by Air Sea Rescue. |
Other captured |
near Konsmo, Norway | 16 November 1943 | Captured near Konsmo after B-17 #42-29996 was shot down on the mission to Knaben, Norway. |
Died |
Siskiyou County, California, United States | 10 February 1968 | |
Shasta County, California, United States | |||
Buried |
Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Yreka, Siskiyou County, California, United States |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1384 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 1384, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 268