Blaine E Thomas

Military
UPL 70547 UPL 70547 "Lt. Thomas and crew of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Vicious Virgin". England, 10 March 1945."

Rear L-R: S/Sgt Walter E Smith, S/Sgt Harry W. Haynes Jr, Sgt Melvin Conrad Carlson, Sgt Edward Gilbert Eschinger, Sgt Louis L Contreras.
Front L-R: 2Lt Max Richard Bartholomew, 2Lt Blaine E Thomas, 2Lt Roger Clinton Lee, 2Lt Walter L Lacy.

Cropped from image media-37598.jpeg (media id 37578)
https://www.fold3.com/image/161238976

Object Number - UPL 70547 - "Lt. Thomas and crew of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Vicious Virgin". England, 10 March...

Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Dresden in B-17 'Sack-Time' 42-102544; crashed near Dresden on 17-Apr-45 Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 14168



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17152344 / O-92990
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-134535
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37583525
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39583708
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33799319
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Togglier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sack Time
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17G Flying Fortress (GN-O, serial number 42-97311) nicknamed "Shoo Shoo Baby," of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew Chief T.Sgt. "Shoo Shoo Baby". 112 missions. 427th Bomb Sqdn, 303rd Bomb Gp. Molesworth, Eng.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Fox aka Shoo Shoo Baby
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA 15 February 1921 Son of Edward C and Pearl M Thomas.

Enlisted

Iowa, USA 9 December 1942

Other

Baled out POW

Dresden, Germany 17 April 1945 Failed to Return (FTR) Dresden in B-17 'Sack-Time' 42-102544; crashed near Dresden on 17-Apr-45 Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 14168

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Festung Königstein, Germany 17 April 1945 Prisoner of War (POW). Oflag IV-B Konigstein. Held with F/O Joseph Bonanno.

Died

Lubbock, TX 29 September 2014

Based

Prisoner of War (POW)

Molesworth 17 April 1945 Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried/ Commemorated

Resthaven Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX Resthaven Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX

Blaine E Thomas: Gallery (2 items)