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Military
Lt Thomas H. Borders at Polebrook on 18 August 1942 (cropped from FRE 880)
![Film star turned Intelligence Officer Gene Raymond of the 97th Bomb Group questions his comrades following a raid on Rouen.
NOTE by L2M2: Pictured far left is then Captain William B. Musselwhite.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.', '216129' [ Censor no] and 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp].
Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT Associated Press photo shows: Gene Raymond ex-Hollywood film star now intelligence office in the U.S. Army Air Corps questions Sgt. Kent West of West Blocton, ALA. Rear Gunner who shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 as the first All-American victim on the European front in this war. The pilot of West's plane was Lt. Tom Borders of Birmingham, ALA ( extreme right) AKP ROB 249457/8/9 i8842N.'](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-379316.jpg?itok=_956y0Rs)
Film star turned Intelligence Officer Gene Raymond of the 97th Bomb Group questions his comrades following a raid on Rouen. NOTE by L2M2: Pictured far left is then Captain William B. Musselwhite. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.', '216129' [ Censor no] and 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT Associated Press photo shows: Gene Raymond ex-Hollywood film star now intelligence office in the U.S. Army Air Corps questions Sgt. Kent West of West Blocton, ALA. Rear Gunner who shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 as the first All-American victim on the European front in this war. The pilot of West's plane was Lt. Tom Borders of Birmingham, ALA ( extreme right) AKP ROB 249457/8/9 i8842N.'
Lt Thomas Borders graduated from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa before enlisting in the Air Corps in July 1941. Assigned as a Pilot in the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron, he was sent overseas. He was Pilot of "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" on VIII Bomber Command's first Heavy Bomber raid to Rouen, France on 17 August 1942. Transferred to North Africa with the 97thBG, he was pilot of 41-24413, also named "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December 1942. Tom Borders and all nine other men on board were killed. To this day, all ten are still listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Military | Private First Class (6th Grade) | Photographer/Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Edward Du Paul was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron at Polebrook, England. He was a photographer/gunner on 41-24413 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer | 97th Bomb Group
Henry Eaton was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Engineer/Gunner on board 41-24413 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December 1942. He and all nine...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Jack Elliott was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Waist Gunner on board 41-24413 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December 1942. He and all nine...
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
Fleming Goolsby was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Co-Pilot of "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" on VIII Bomber Command's first Heavy Bomber raid to Rouen, France on 17 August 1942. Transferred to North Africa with the 97thBG, he was...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 97th Bomb Group
Theodore Hokenstad was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Navigator on board 41-24413 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December 1942. He and all nine...
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Edward Swedo was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Tail Gunner on board 41-24413 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" when it was lost to Flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia, 26 December 1942. He and all nine other...
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 97th Bomb Group
Pierce Tyler was a student at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana in 1940. After his enlistment in the Air Corps he was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron and sent overseas. He was Radio Operator on board 41-24413 "Birmingham...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 97th Bomb Group
Mortimer Walsh was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Bombardier on board of "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" 41-9100 on VIII Bomber Command's first Heavy Bomber raid to Rouen, France on 17 August 1942. Transferred to North Africa with...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Kent West (first name "Kemp" in the US 1930 Census) was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Ball Turret Gunner on board 41-9100 "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" on VIII Bomber Command's first Heavy Bomber raid to Rouen, France on 17...
Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 92BG Bangor 14 July 1942. Transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24 August 1942. To Maison Blanche, Algiers, Algeria 13 November 1942. To Tafaraoui, Algeria 22 November 1942. To Biskra, Algeria 25 December 1942. Missing in Action on the Bizerte...
B-17 Flying Fortress
As 414BS/97BG Polebrook 11/4/42; flew first 8AF bombing mission with Lt. Thomas H. Borders, the Ball turret gunner: Kent West, credited with destruction of 1st German aircraft destroyed, on 17-August 1942; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; CCRC 1/43;...
17 August 1942
The US 8AF launches its first strategic bombing raid of the war, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es of the 97BG on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, while another six fly a diversionary route. The attacking force is split into two...
Military site : airfield
Polebrook was laid down for RAF Bomber Command use in 1940-1941. Built by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd, it had short runways which were lengthened for USAAF heavy bomber use. The RAF used the base for operational trials - including of B-17 Flying...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States | 19 June 1917 |
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the son of Robert Henderson Borders Sr and Susan Jane (Tatum) Borders |
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| Lived in | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States | April 1940 |
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as a student at the University of Alabama |
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| Enlisted | Montgomery, Alabama, United States | 12 July 1941 |
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as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps |
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| Died | Tunisia, North Africa | 26 December 1942 |
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in the loss of B-17 41-24413 |
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| Memorialized | North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial | |
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on the Tablets of the Missing |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 04 December 2017 16:18:44 | ED-BB | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated media and chose Key Image |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 December 2017 13:58:23 | ED-BB | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, biography, events, person associations, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
MACR 16150 |
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