321st BOMB GROUP, 448th BOMB SQUADFRON

Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", 2Lt, pilot

(name & niickname per daughter)(1st mission 9 Apr 45)

(not in WWII mem)(NARA - 17079463

THOMPSON#ALEXANDER#M# MN HENNEPIN MINNEAPOLIS MN 42)

321st Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Squardon, 57th Bomb Wing, 12th AF
Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", (2Lt, B-25 pilot)

3 Apr 45 -448th BS War Diary**: Sections continued their packing for

the new field and transports continued to ferry equipment over to the

new field. Lieutenants Neilson, Plummer, Morris, Coogan, Korntved,

Freeman, Thompson, Landis, Schneider, Keene and Flight Officers

Clark and VanHorn, Sergeants Dutilly, Krysak, and Corporals Wall,

Griffin, E.I., Green, Cusack, Reed, Litwiller, Woodling, and Pvt.

Stracuzzi were assigned to the Squadron as new combat crewmen.

1st mission:

9 Apr 45 - 448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 842/mission 842)

Group Mission # 842: The remainder of the planes left on Corsica arrived

here this morning, and this afternoon the Squadron went all-out with nineteen

(19) planes in the air to support the jump-off of ground forces in Northern Italy

about to begin the last offensive in Italy. The Squadron left the Brenner Pass

to attack defense positions west of Ravenna and north of Faenza. Major

Farwell led the formation with fragmentation bombs covering the assigned

area well. All planes returned safely. A/C No. 43-27530 Tail # 79 “Twin Engine Sadie” P Valenti, Jack J., 1Lt CP Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", 2Lt N None B Stracuzzi, John L., Pvt E Rainey, L. L., Sgt R Cusack, Francis X., Cpl G Smith, Norman L., S/Sgt FNone

2nd mission:

19 Apr 45 - 448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 872/mission 872)

Group Mission # 872: Lieutenant Wilson led the Squadron’s planes off this

morning to attack the Vignola Defense area. The area was well covered with

the fragmentation bombs.

3rd mission: 19 Apr 45 - 448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 874/mission 874)

Group Mission # 874: The target for this afternoon’s mission was the

S. Martino Troop Area. Major Farwell led the formation to this target,

scoring good patterns on all the assigned aiming points. No losses were

suffered during the day’s operations.

A/C No. 43-27528 Tail # 85 P Bechtle, Robert M., 1Lt CP Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", 2Lt N None B Dutilly, Ellard K., S/Sgt E Oliver, Walter A., S/Sgt R Hanley, E. N., Sgt G Abiecunas, Joseph P. “Abby”, S/Sgt FNone

4th mission: 21 Apr 45 - 448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 879/mission 879)

Group Mission # 879: Lieutenant Fleming led another Shoran mission out to

attack the rail bridge at Sandon, Italy. Although difficulty was experienced

with the special equipment, a good concentration of bombs was scored within

the target area. All planes from today’s mission returned safely.

A/C No. 44-28940 Tail # 92 P Bruhn, Charles A., 2Lt CP Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", 2Lt N None B Neilson, J. H., 1Lt E Wolfe, Bernard M., S/Sgt R Sadofsky, John (NMI), S/Sgt GSharp, Samuel I., Jr., S/Sgt

22 Apr 45 - 448th BS War Diary: The following combat crewmen were

assigned to the Squadron this morning: Lts. Blank, Erickson, Goodwin,

McGregor, Pushee, Rogers, Saliwanchik, Schiller, Smith, Thompson

and Sayre; F/O’s Church, Emerson, Hedman, Johnson, Maximovich,

Rizzo, Stewart; Sergeants: Baird, Bower, Braga, Capsalis, Cauble,

Gallagher, Hornbeck, Hurst, Issacoff, Long, Marcellus, Novitsky, Oliver,

Seigal, Steiman, Stevens, Stewart, and Pvt. Worley. Captain Lee

returned from Cannes and Captain Marshall returned from Ille Rousse

rest camp today. Lt. Cherry, Cpl. Cordo, and Pvts. Denny and

Lautenschlager were transferred to the 6577th Mobile Flying Control Unit.

5th mission:

22 Apr 45 - 448th BS Mission Summary: Lieutenant Russell, H., led the 448th’s planes

this morning out to attack the Polesella Ferry Site. A good concentration of bombs was scored

on the target area and the south Ferry point. Some enemy flak was encountered but no losses

were sustained. Lieutenant Autrey led the Squadron out to bomb the S. Nicolo Ferry Site this

afternoon. The concentration of bombs fell on the south ferrying point. Some flak was

encountered here also, but no losses were suffered during the day’s operations.

448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 880/mission 880)

Group Mission # 880:

A/C No. 43-28081 Tail # 81 P Campbell, John E., 2Lt CP Thompson, Alexander Mackensie "Sandy", 2Lt N None B Hauke, R. C., Sgt E Magers, Marshall P., S/Sgt R Sevier, Fred L., T/Sgt G Reed, W. J., Cpl FNone

Awarded Air Medal:

G.O. # 93, 12th AF, 2 May, ’45, for Meritorious Achievement Lt. Thompson,

Alexander Mackensie “Sandy", pilot San Nicolo, Italy 22 Apr 1945 Air Medal

Transferred to 515th Air Service Group:

3 Jul 45 - 448th BS War Diary: S/Sgt’s DiSalvo, Dittman, Ederer, and Fields; Sgt’s McConnell,

and Masbruch; Cpl’s Ferguson, Garmong, Goodman, Jungquist, Langness, Lehti, and Light;

PFC DelGuergio departed for 414 Night Ftr. Sqd. T/Sgt Anderson joined squadron. S/Sgt Roy;

Cpl’s Woller and Scombardi; and Pvt Gesmer departed for temporary duty Hq Sq, 57th

Bomb Wg. Lt Thompson, and Lt Neilson; F/O VanHorn; Sgt’s Yacur, and Capsalis

departed for 515th Air Serv Grp. S/Sgt’s Tratchel and Reutke joined squadron.

S/Sgt Glass departed for 416th Night Ftr Sqd.

Barbi Ennis Connolly, 321st Bomb Group Historian and

History Team-Member with John (Lil' Butch) Fitzgerald and Patti Johnson.

PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn 13 August, 2011

(Pictures and Stories from "Sandy's" proud daughter Gretchen)

Alexander M Thompson