Second Lieutenant Thomsen served with the 114th Base Unit from Chatham Field, near Savannah, Georgia, during World War II.
He was the Co-pilot, and one of ten airmen killed when B-24J Liberator #42-109877 crashed, ten miles northwest of the airfield.
The bomber crashed at 07:47 hours, shortly after takeoff for an intended camera gunnery practice mission that was to take the crew to Athens, Georgia, then to Spartanburg, South Carolina, then return to base. During the departure, an important mission packet was dropped on the runway, and personnel at the airfield attempted radio contact to advise the pilot to return, but no response was received. A few moments later, another B-24 departing in a climb observed the subject airplane pass underneath, with heavy smoke coming from the № 4 motor. The bomber was then observed to make a steep banking right turn, with the wing on fire, and plunge into the woods and explode. All aboard were killed.
The service members were:
2nd Lt. Sidney E Palmateer, O-825262, MI, Pilot
Flt. Off. Virgil E Cole, T-127662, ME, Navigator
2nd Lt. Lucian P Marino, O2056813, OK, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Walter R Thomsen, O-828877, CA, Co-Pilot
S/Sgt. Harold P Dansky, 37544550, MN, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. John M Gewak, 6890033, PA, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Joe B Wright, 18041296, TX, Flight Engineer
Sgt. Willard C Johnston, 6667199, WV, Gunner
Cpl. Lewis Masters, 38468566, MO, Radio Operator
Cpl. Gilbert A Spading, 36778943, Gunner
~
Entered the service from California; Service ID: O-828877.
Second Lieutenant Thomsen served with the 114th Base Unit from Chatham Field, near Savannah, Georgia, during World War II.
He was the Co-pilot, and one of ten airmen killed when B-24J Liberator #42-109877 crashed, ten miles northwest of the airfield.
The bomber crashed at 07:47 hours, shortly after takeoff for an intended camera gunnery practice mission that was to take the crew to Athens, Georgia, then to Spartanburg, South Carolina, then return to base. During the departure, an important mission packet was dropped on the runway, and personnel at the airfield attempted radio contact to advise the pilot to return, but no response was received. A few moments later, another B-24 departing in a climb observed the subject airplane pass underneath, with heavy smoke coming from the № 4 motor. The bomber was then observed to make a steep banking right turn, with the wing on fire, and plunge into the woods and explode. All aboard were killed.
The service members were:
2nd Lt. Sidney E Palmateer, O-825262, MI, Pilot
Flt. Off. Virgil E Cole, T-127662, ME, Navigator
2nd Lt. Lucian P Marino, O2056813, OK, Bombardier
2nd Lt. Walter R Thomsen, O-828877, CA, Co-Pilot
S/Sgt. Harold P Dansky, 37544550, MN, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. John M Gewak, 6890033, PA, Asst. Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Joe B Wright, 18041296, TX, Flight Engineer
Sgt. Willard C Johnston, 6667199, WV, Gunner
Cpl. Lewis Masters, 38468566, MO, Radio Operator
Cpl. Gilbert A Spading, 36778943, Gunner
~
Entered the service from California; Service ID: O-828877.
Inscription
2LT, 114 AAF BASE UNIT WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Gravestone shows birth year of 1916, but birth certificate and military headstone request form both show 25 May 1917, Damascus, Oregon for birth info.
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