Information supplied by his Grandson Blake Thomas
Born 16th February 1917 - 315th Troop Carrier Group - 34th Troop Carrier Squadron, United States Army Air Force
After a brief stint in college and working in the Gary, Indiana steel mills he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. Like so many glider pilots, he was washed out of basic due to his eyesight. Not wanting to be grounded, he volunteered for the fledgling glider program. The job of a glider pilot was to land the glider, unload it, secure the LZ (landing Zone), then make their way back from behind enemy lines to a safe base and get back for more missions. The gliders were little more than wood and fabric, with no weapons and were nicknamed "flak bait" for their low-flying and very little defence.
He spent '42 through '44 at several air bases, taking basic glider at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, Sheppard Field, Texas, and finally advanced and ground school at Lubbock Army Air Base in Texas. He graduated Glider school as a Flight Officer in April 1944 and got his wings.
He arrived in Europe on D+5, just missing the initial invasion of Normandy. He was assigned to the 52nd Wing, 315th Troop Carrier Group, 34th Troop Carrier Squadron in Stamford, England. From there his first combat mission was Operation Dragoon in southern France, where he flew Glider Infantry troops.
His awards and commendations include a Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal, a Purple Heart, the Croix de Guerre, the EAME ribbon with 3 battle stars, the orange Market Garden lanyard, and the WWII Victory Medal.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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