Thomas D Sellers | American Air Museum

Thomas D Sellers

Military

Pilot, Sellers crew. 381st BG, 535th BS. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 17 December 1943 for mission #36 to the shipyards at Bremen, Germany on 8 October, 1943. He was flying B-17 #42-5846 'Tinker Toy' with 1Lt Minerich when they were attacked by fighters. A 20mm shell decapitated 1Lt Minerich and wounded 1Lt Sellers in the arm. The Navigator and Bombardier were also wounded. 1Lt Sellers flew the aircraft back to base with the assistance of the ETTG Sgt Miller.

Norfolk, VA

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

A B-17 Flying Fortress (MS-O, serial number 42-3177) nicknamed "The Hellion", of the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group flies over countryside. Printed caption on reverse: '65922 USAF - From the altitude this Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 381st Bomb Group is flying, the countryside resembles a patchwork quilt. U.S.AIR FORCE PHOTO.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'The Hellion.'

535th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ground personnel of the 381st Bomb Group survey the battle damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-39170) nicknamed "Tinker Toy" at Ridgewell, 8 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'C65841 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Tinker Toy" of the 381st Bomb Group stationed at an 8th AF base near Ridgewell, Essex County, England, 8 October 1943. U.S.Air Force Photo.'

William J Minerich

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-795807
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-5846

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Tinker Toy
Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

Revisions

Date21 Nov 2017 05:49:14

ContributorARowe95

Changes

Sources

ARowe95

Date27 Sep 2014 18:25:52

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx