Thomas Shepard was stationed at Duxford, 1943-1944, as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He flew P-47s with the 8th Air Force, 78th Fighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron.



During the war he flew 90 missions. He had finished his tour and was awaiting travel orders to go home when they learned about the imminent D-Day invasion. He volunteered for another tour, but on the night before the invasion - as his new orders had not yet come through - he helped to paint invasion stripes on the planes that were to take part in the invasion. His new orders arrived a few days after that, and he flew missions into July.



Shepard died on 18 December 2016. He was 96-1/2 years old. His heart had been failing for a couple of years, which slowed him down but didn't stop him: 2 days before he died, he dressed up in his standard uniform of a bow tie, his blazer, and his Distinguished Flying Cross lapel pin - and attended the Christmas party at his retirement home. Because of his gregariousness, the other residents called him "The Mayor of Sherwood Oaks".



As my mother often said, "He never met a stranger" - though he was fortunate to meet The Queen once.



Around 1978 he heard that the deteriorating facilities at Duxford would be renovated and would eventually serve as the air wing of The Imperial War Museum. Over the years, he visited frequently as the Museum grew. He was generously asked to be in the receiving line to meet Queen Elizabeth II for the dedication of The American Museum at Duxford at its opening in 1997. She had spoken with a few people in the line, though dad broke protocol when he addressed her first, "Your Majesty, I remember when you visited here with your parents in 1943." Replied The Queen, "I remember well."