Larry B. Thomas was born on August 13, 1922 in the town of Puyallup, Pierce County, Washington to Harold E. Thomas and Isabelle M. Thomas, nee Hayes. Larry was their only child. In 1930, the family lived in Puyallup, where Harold owned a candy store. By 1935, they had moved to North Sprague in Lincoln County, Washington, where Harold had bought a farm.

Larry Bruce Thomas registered for the draft on June 30, 1942. He was 19 years old, 5’7” tall, and weighed 160 pounds. He had blonde hair, green eyes, and a light complexion. He resided in Bluestem, Lincoln County and worked for his father. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps from the Reserve Officer Training Corps on January 25, 1943 at Hondo Army Airfield in Texas. He was single, without dependents, and had completed one year of college. He was commissioned a flight officer following graduation from Foster Field in Victoria, Texas in November 1943.

Lt. Thomas was assigned to the 32nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group. The 301st was based in Lucera, Italy beginning in December 1943. They participated in the bombing of various targets, such as oil centers, communications, and industrial areas in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece.

According to Missing Air Crew Report #7141, Lt. Thomas was the co-pilot of B-17 bomber #44-6189. On July 26, 1944, the crew was assigned a bombing mission of the Weiner-Neustadt aircraft factory in Austria. As they were approaching the target, their aircraft was hit by enemy aircraft. Witnesses said they saw the left wing burning. Seven of the ten-man crew were able to bail out of aircraft, but three men were killed when the plane exploded after the bomb bay caught fire.

Lt. Larry B. Thomas was killed in action on July 26, 1944. His body was never recovered and his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing, Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Toscana, Italy. He was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project

(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to

write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We

Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be

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If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/Lincoln County

Sources:

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56367000/larry-b-thomas

Missing Air Crew Reports, WWII, https://www.fold3.com/image/28717604/44

WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/record/703905214/blank-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

American Battle Monuments Commission, https://www.fold3.com/record/529868297/larry-b-thomas-american-battle-monuments-commission

The Spokesman-Review, 13 Nov 1943, Sat · Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/567793320?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763536?rec=299428678

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112398610:6224

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/61246414:2442

World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1786217:8939?tid=&pid=&queryId=96017180f70b3b2927dab38d5086cc1b&_phsrc=xOR60909&_phstart=successSource

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37199228:2238

Larry B Thomas