Phlemon Thomas Wright
MilitaryNavigator, Laux crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Damaged by fighters on the return from mission #67 to marshalling yards at Franfurt am Main, GR. On 11 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31099 'Tenabove' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after the crew bailed out. MACR 2431. Evaded (EVD). EE Report 521/522.
Lt Wright was assisted by multiple members of the French Underground and civilians. He was reunited with crew members Lt Laux and Sgt's Helfgott, Hamilton, Cutino and Glennan while in hiding. Returned to England by 24 Mar 1944.
Floresville, TX
Awards: AM, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37059494
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34602703
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39104963
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746646
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18131846
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner, Radio Mechanic
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Tenabove
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
![A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress on the 4 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413520.jpg.webp?itok=8ZB41rSN)
- Date: 11 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Floresville, Texas, USA | 15 May 1915 | Son of Tom and Annie E [Coleman] Wright. |
|
Other 381st BG Combat Tour |
Ridgewell Airfield, UK | 26 December 1943 - 11 February 1944 | |
|
Other Shot Down/Evaded |
near Poix-de-Picardie, France | 11 February 1944 - 24 March 1944 | EE Report 521/522 |
|
Died |
Bexar County, TX | 4 February 1996 | |
|
Buried |
Fairview Cemetery Fairview, Wilson County, TX, | 8 February 1996 | Fairview Cemetery Fairview, Wilson County, Texas, USA |
| Karnes City, TX |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2431 / MACR 2431, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database