William T Thistlethwaite

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Lieutenant George F. Perpente, sitting on a loaded bomb trolley, talks to Lieutenant Francis N. King and Lieutenant William Thistlewaite, also of the 353rd Fighter Group. The group is in front a P-47 Thunderbolt. This photograph was taken at Metfield air base where the group were stationed between 3 August 1943 and 12 April 1944. Passed for publication 4 December 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Fighters Now Carry Bombs. Photo shows: U.S. fighter pilots discuss their first fighter bomber raid while media-377076.jpg FRE 378 Lieutenant George F. Perpente, sitting on a loaded bomb trolley, talks to Lieutenant Francis N. King and Lieutenant William Thistlewaite, also of the 353rd Fighter Group. The group is in front a P-47 Thunderbolt. This photograph was taken at Metfield air base where the group were stationed between 3 August 1943 and 12 April 1944. Passed for publication 4 December 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Fighters Now Carry Bombs. Photo shows: U.S. fighter pilots discuss their first fighter bomber raid while waiting for their Thunderbolts to be bombed up in readiness for further attacks on the enemy. Left to right: Lieut. George F. Perpente, of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Lieut. Francis N. King, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Lieut. William Thistlewaite of Richmond, Indiana. G. November 1943. PN.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 378 - Lieutenant George F. Perpente, sitting on a loaded bomb trolley, talks to Lieutenant Francis N. King and Lieutenant William Thistlewaite, also of the...

Crashed into North Sea on 12 May 44 in P-51 42-76352 He had been seconded to the 365th FG/9th AF for a 7 day dive bombing mission according to Capt. Cornell who was the last to see him. He bailed out of his failing plane and got in his dinghy. It took over 2 hrs for the boats to reach area and by that time they could not find him. Capt Cornell refueled and went back but couldn't find him. His body was washed ashore at Coxyde, Belgium and he had a fractured leg. He was buried in the British cemetary in Belgium and was later moved to Holland. Killed in Action (KIA)

Connections

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

Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

12 May 1944

Born

Richmond, Virginia

Other

Transferred

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

MACR 4991

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4991, Jonah's Feet Are Dry Pg 631 / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

William T Thistlethwaite: Gallery (3 items)