William M Thorns

Military
media-43889.jpeg UPL 43889 William Thorns

photo made during visit with B Thorns

Object Number - UPL 43889 - William Thorns

On 17 August 1943, Bill Thorns' crew led the first shuttle mission, which was heading for Regensburg, Germany. He was flying in B-17 42-30366 'Fertile Myrtle 3rd'. "Col Curtis LeMay commanded this mission from our plane".



His crew led the 3rd Air Division in same plane as above on Mission 115, second Schweinfurt Mission on 14 October 1943. This mission was led by Col. Archie Old from our plane ("this was my 20th Birthday").



Bill married Dorothy May on August 17th 1946. He says "those milestones never leave you".



DFC, Air Medal (3Oak Leaf Cluster's) Pres. Unit Citation, Europen, African, Middle Eastern Campaign, American Defense.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-29762 Coup de Grace with crew; Robert Elbert Smith (pilot) standing rear left, other crew unknown
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Coup de Grace
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Fertile Myrtle The 3rd" of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fertile Myrtle III
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 14 October 1923

Died

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 10 May 2020

Revisions

Date
Contributormmc14
Changes
Sources

corrected correction

Date
Contributormmc14
Changes
Sources

updated info

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

As told to me by Bill Thorns at the 8th Air Force Historical Society in Nashville, October 2014.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self

William M Thorns: Gallery (1 items)