Thomas Francis Jeffers
Militaryadded photo
2nd Lt. Thomas F. Jeffers, bombardier, was shot down on 18 June 1944 on his 3rd mission. B-24 was named 'Rhapsody in Junk'. Was Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft III for 7 months and was a POW at Stalag VIIA for 3 more months. He was liberated from 7A on 29 April 1945. Spent 29 1/2 years in the AF, retiring as lieutenant colonel. Worked in Procurement on guidance systems for various missiles such as Titan and Atlas, also on production of conventional munitions.
The Great War For Civilization Medal; Air Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Military Merit; American Campaign; WW II victory Medal; POW Medal, Armed Forces Reserve; National Defense Medal; EAME Medal
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-860086
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19116172 and O-761871
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38367896
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39693927
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34509333
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 18 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Brockton, Massachusetts, United States | 1 February 1921 | |
Enlisted |
New York, NY, USA | 1 September 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps |
Other POW (Prisoner of War) |
Zagan, Poland | 18 June 1944 - 29 April 1945 | Captured in Kappeln, near Schleswig, Germany, on 18 June 1944 at 10:00am. Interned at Stalag Luft 3 and evacuated to Stalag 7A on the forced march that started on 27 January 1945. Stalag 7A in Moosburg was liberated by the US 14th Armored Division on 29 April 1945. Tom Jeffers boarded the "Marine Dragon" and docked at Boston, Massachusetts on 11 June 1945. |
Died |
Oxford, Ohio, United States | 24 June 2004 | |
Buried |
Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield, Ohio, United States |
Revisions
Corrections sent through to the American Air Museum by Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.
Daughter Marilyn's info
MACR 5908
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self/daughter Marilyn Walton & Page 277of the book LIBERATORS OVER EUROPE by Mackay, Bailey & Scorza, D790G458 & 458bg.com - crew picture in Newell's crew in 754th BS