Thomas J FOSTER
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Source : Don | ||||||||
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | O-758789 | |||||||
AGE | 20 yo | |||||||
DATE OF BIRTH | 1924 Jackson, Hinds County, MISSISSIPPI | |||||||
STATE | MISSISSIPPI | |||||||
FAMILY | ||||||||
RANK | 1st Lieutenant | |||||||
FONCTION | Pilot | |||||||
JOB before ENLISTEMENT | -- | |||||||
DATE of ENLISTEMENT | -- | |||||||
SQUADRON | 357th Fighter Squadron | |||||||
GROUP | 355th Fighter Group | |||||||
ARMY | 8th Air Force | |||||||
DATE OF DEATH | 7 june 1944 |
Source : F Lavernhe | ||||||
STATUS | KIA | |||||||
PLACE OF DEATH | Aunay-sous-Auneau | |||||||
DATA PLAN |
P-51 Mustang - type B-15 - s/n 42-106742 OS*G "Custard 88"
(Oblt Engau du 2./JG11) à 08h25 - The aircraft crashed and burned with his driver. | |||||||
CEMTERY TEMPORARY |
CEMTERY TEMPORARY of Blosville N°3508 | |||||||
CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY de Colleville |
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DECORATION |
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STORY | ||||||||
At 6:54 am, around twenty P-51s of the 357th Fighter Squadron took off from their base in England for a bombing mission in the vicinity of Rambouillet and the North-East of Eure-et-Loir. The pilots McFARLANE, GUERRANT, HOLLMAN and DEBACKER of the "yellow" flight were separated from the remainder of the squadron during the crossing of the Channel due to the numerous clouds. They then descended to an altitude of 2000 feet (600 meters) and found the remainder of the 357th Fighter Squadron. Arriving in the Rambouillet region, around 8:20 am, the twenty P-51s began their tactical bombardment, the "blue" Flight first dropping its bombs on a train.
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Source : Don | |||||||
The French authorities at the time also noted, at around 8:30 am, the bombardment of the Aunay-Tréon station (South of Dreux) and its fuel tanks, injuring one person. But, very quickly, the 357th Fighter Squadron interrupted its mission ... due to the arrival of German fighters in the vicinity. From the start of the fight, the ENGAU Oblt of 2./JG11 targeted one of the P-51s which received several fatal blows. The American hunter ignited immediately before disappearing while climbing up into the clouds. A few seconds later, it came out, streaking straight towards the ground. His weapons were working full fire towards the ground. Did the flames explode the bullets? Was the pilot dead with the finger operating his weapons? The Allied pilot could not eject from his aircraft.
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Source : Don |
Source : Don | |||||||
Obviously, the P-51 fatally hit by the ENGAU Oblt was that of Lt Thomas FOSTER (matr. 0-758189, code name "Custard 88"). Indeed, this P-51 (Nr 42-106742, code OS-G) crashed at the start of hostilities at 08:25, south-east of Auneau. A German report formally located the crash site and specified that this Mustang was 100% destroyed and the pilot's body was found in the aircraft. Lt Lieutenant Edward McNEFF, leader of the "blue" Flight witnessed the crash of his comrade who belonged to the same Flight (4th position). He clarified that the "blue" Flight had just performed its dive bombing mission on a train when he saw Lt FOSTER's P-51 burning to the ground. No radio message came from his plane. The windshield of the Fw-190 being smeared with oil from Lt FOSTER's damaged P-51, Oblt ENGAU gave up the fight and had to go to the Dreux air base with some of his comrades to refuel. fuel
The morning of June 7, 1944 was the subject of a major air battle for the 355th Fighter Group which lost 5 aircraft including 4 in Eure-et-Loir. |
INFORMATION SOURCE | MARIE Cyrille - Francecrashes39-45.net |
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PICTURE SOURCE | Frédéric LAVERNHE - Findagrave.com(Don) - www.ar15.com |
PROGRAMMER | Frédéric & Renaud |
https://www.historyhit.com/the-crippling-losses-of-the-luftwaffe-during-operation-overlord/
Veuillez pardonner mon pauvre français. Votre site web est exceptionnel et un bel hommage à ces hommes!