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Jack W. Thrasher Crew (left to right)
Standing:
Jack Thrasher (P), Ernest Coble (CP), Maurice Kay (BOM), Gerald
Rimmel (NAV)
Kneeling: Albert Egsieker (ROG), Joseph Turrenne (WG)
Cecil Baker (TG)
Thomas Browning (TTE), George Mensler (NG)
Photo courtesy of Sally Browning Holloway, daughter of Thomas
Browning.
According to Jack O'Leary (20 Jan 2005), this photo was taken on
25 Oct 1944 at Ardmore AAF, Oklahoma. 2nd Lt. Maurice Kay was
removed from the Thrasher crew after training in the States and
was replaced by Cpl. George Mensler
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2nd Lt |
Jack W. Thrasher |
P |
KIA |
3-Mar-45 |
Brunswick |
| 2nd Lt |
Ernest F. Coble, Jr. |
CP |
FEH |
-- |
-- |
| 2nd Lt |
Gerald A. Rimmel |
NAV |
POW |
3-Mar-45 |
Brunswick |
| Cpl |
Thomas C. Browning |
TTE |
POW |
3-Mar-45 |
Brunswick |
| Cpl |
Albert L. Egsieker |
ROG |
POW |
3-Mar-45 |
Brunswick |
| Cpl |
Alfred S. Collins |
BTG |
FEH |
-- |
-- |
| Cpl |
George E. Mensler |
NG |
FEH |
-- |
-- |
| Cpl |
Joseph E. Turenne |
WG |
FEH |
-- |
-- |
| Cpl |
Cecil A. Baker |
TG |
KIA |
3-Mar-45 |
Brunswick |
349th Sqdn. This crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 3/12/44. A/C
#44 8220 MACR
#12892,Microfiche #4704
On board the A/C on 3/3/45 were:
- Lt Charles S. Bayha, CP from
the crew of J. V. DePlanque. He
became a POW.
- Lt Harry F. Bott, BOM
from the crew of Denzil Naar. He became a POW.
- Lt Willis R. McGuire, Radar Nav from the crew of
L. C. Williams was KIA.
- Sgt. Ray U. Muffley, WG from the crew of J. A. Carroll was a POW.
From Hank Cervantes 2005:
"Re:MACR:12892, Jack Thrasher. For the record I would like to submit my
recollection of Jack Thrasher's death. I was Joe Martin's copilot and we
were off of Jack's left wing on that mission. I believe that the 100th was
leading the 13th Combat Wing and six 100th aircraft were in two flights
dropping chaff ahead of the 100th and the remainder of the Wing. We had not
yet arrived over the target when two ME-262's attacked us from seven o'clock
high. The lead 262 fired 2 or 3 canon shells into Jack's left wing root
starting a fire. Jack side-slipped the 17 in an effort to blow it out. He
was unsuccessful and returned the plane to straight-and-level. Jack was
clearly visible holding the airplane steady as his men bailed out. At least
three did so before the plane exploded. His was the bravest act I have I
have ever witnessed. Jack bunked across the aisle from me and only the night
before I had watched as he reached over, picked up his large photo of a
beautiful girl, kissed it and said, "Two more honey. Only two more and I'll
be home." Several years ago, an article appeared in Splasher Six about
Jack's family. I tried to get their home address to send them this
recollection but it was withheld from me.... Hank"
From Richard Ayesh 5/30/2006: "Jack Thrashers' plane was shot
down by an ME 262. His wing was shot off and all were killed in the crash.
He was leading the 2nd element of of the lead squadron dropping chaff for
the entire 8th air force. Fighters were late joining us and the ME262 came
thru our formation and shot Jack down. I saw the whole thing as we were on
his wing and could almost touch the jet as he went by, cannon fire coming
out of his wing."...Richard Ayesh was BOM on the E. T.
Jensen crew.
Note: Only two were actually KIA 3 Mar 34 Brunswick |
-end-
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