Edward J. Thompson was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1915.
Later, he worked as a mechanic in Cook County, Ill. where he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He received his gunner's wings at the Harlington, TX, Flexible Gunnery School.
In February 1944, he flew overseas with the crew of the B-24 Liberator "Lyndy" to join the 44th Bomber Group,506th Bomber Squadron in Shipdham, England.
During a mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on June 29, 1944, his plane "My Everlovin' Gal" was hit by flak and exploded, killing most of the crew, including Thompson.
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson KIA
Hometown: Chicago Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 16038586
Awards: Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA
MACR #7093
Target: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission Date: 29-Jun-44
Serial Number: #41-28829
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-H
Aircraft Name: MY EVERLOVIN GAL
Location: suburbs of Hannover
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 POW
Specific target here was the Krupp Aircraft Factory. Meeting the stiffest ground fire of the month, the 44th BG had 26 of their 36 aircraft damaged! Two of these planes were lost when flak damaged one, which lost control, and crashed into his wingman. Both 506th Squadron aircraft were lost. Also, one 66th Squadron aircraft was forced to crash-land; one 67th plane returned with one WIA.
The MACR states that this aircraft was hit by the right wing of aircraft #42-51181 as it was attempting to pull out of formation after sustaining flak hits. This occurred at 0952 hours over target of Magdeburg, 30 seconds after bombs away. S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence, left waist gunner, sent this story, Our mission was to Magdeburg, 29 June, 1944. We were on the bomb run and flak was very heavy. I was flying left waist, the bombs were dropped, and then we received some damage from a close one. Pilot Westcott called me to check the damage in the bomb bay. As I opened the interior door, (to the bomb bay) fluid from the hydraulic reservoir was pouring out, and the bomb bay doors were still open, all the bombs had cleared. I learned later that Fred DuBose was on the other, cabin side, of the bomb bay to close the doors when the
fire began in the bomb bay.
The ship flying off Westcotts left wing was Landahls. Both were hit at the same time. Due to the flak hits, Landahl lost control and altitude, dropping right on top of Westcott. Sgt. Lawrence continues: Fred jumped from that position before the explosion. The last thing I remember was closing my door to the bomb bay, then talking to Westcott on the intercom to tell him the problems with our ship. I had returned to the left waist position when the explosion occurred, throwing me out and the heat was terrific. My first thought was to pull the ripcord (I had been wearing my chute), which I did, and somehow my chute did not catch fire nor was it hit by flying debris.
On the way down I counted chutes and assumed we all got out. At this point, I did not know about the collision with Landahls plane. My only injury was a broken collar bone, pulled muscles in left arm, and sprained ankle when landing. Fred DuBose and I landed within about 200 feet of each other. After getting out of my chute harness and putting on those G.I. shoes strapped to the harness, Fred and I went to help Lt. Landahl who was about 100 yards from us. It was 1000 hours. A Land Watch farmer was coming for us as we approached Landahl. He quickly saw we were trying to help, so he went on searching for the others.
Lt. Landahl was in great pain from wounds in thighs and legs but neither of our first aid kits had any morphine. But we did find some in his kit and gave him a shot. Both of his legs were mutilated, broken in several places and evidently had lost most of his blood during descent. I put a tourniquet on for a bit, but after cutting his trouser leg to see what was wrong, I removed it. His wounds were not bleeding; they had lost most of it already, I suspect. So Fred gave him another shot of morphine. But he died shortly thereafter. We were near a small village, but did not leave the field where we landed until that evening.
Only three men from our ship survived. The tail section must have separated from the rest of the plane at the waist window area, making our escape possible. Three men from the other ship were also there with us at that time.
Joe Morris, tail gunner, also was blown out and free from the debris after the explosion. There was no ball turret gunner on this plane as he, Joe Gasky, had been invited to London by Bebe Daniels to take part in her radio broadcast. So only nine men flew this day, one short.
Walter Tex Lawrence reported that this aircraft, MY EVERLOVIN GAL, appears briefly about halfway through the film, The Men Who Flew the Liberators.
MY EVERLOVIN GAL Crew
1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA Pilot
Robert H. Reeves Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Thomas L. Hine Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Arthur C. Toepel Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Fred A. DuBose Radio Op. WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence Gunner WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Frank Artym Jr. Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph I. Morris Gunner POW
Later, he worked as a mechanic in Cook County, Ill. where he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He received his gunner's wings at the Harlington, TX, Flexible Gunnery School.
In February 1944, he flew overseas with the crew of the B-24 Liberator "Lyndy" to join the 44th Bomber Group,506th Bomber Squadron in Shipdham, England.
During a mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on June 29, 1944, his plane "My Everlovin' Gal" was hit by flak and exploded, killing most of the crew, including Thompson.
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson KIA
Hometown: Chicago Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 16038586
Awards: Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA
MACR #7093
Target: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission Date: 29-Jun-44
Serial Number: #41-28829
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-H
Aircraft Name: MY EVERLOVIN GAL
Location: suburbs of Hannover
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 POW
Specific target here was the Krupp Aircraft Factory. Meeting the stiffest ground fire of the month, the 44th BG had 26 of their 36 aircraft damaged! Two of these planes were lost when flak damaged one, which lost control, and crashed into his wingman. Both 506th Squadron aircraft were lost. Also, one 66th Squadron aircraft was forced to crash-land; one 67th plane returned with one WIA.
The MACR states that this aircraft was hit by the right wing of aircraft #42-51181 as it was attempting to pull out of formation after sustaining flak hits. This occurred at 0952 hours over target of Magdeburg, 30 seconds after bombs away. S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence, left waist gunner, sent this story, Our mission was to Magdeburg, 29 June, 1944. We were on the bomb run and flak was very heavy. I was flying left waist, the bombs were dropped, and then we received some damage from a close one. Pilot Westcott called me to check the damage in the bomb bay. As I opened the interior door, (to the bomb bay) fluid from the hydraulic reservoir was pouring out, and the bomb bay doors were still open, all the bombs had cleared. I learned later that Fred DuBose was on the other, cabin side, of the bomb bay to close the doors when the
fire began in the bomb bay.
The ship flying off Westcotts left wing was Landahls. Both were hit at the same time. Due to the flak hits, Landahl lost control and altitude, dropping right on top of Westcott. Sgt. Lawrence continues: Fred jumped from that position before the explosion. The last thing I remember was closing my door to the bomb bay, then talking to Westcott on the intercom to tell him the problems with our ship. I had returned to the left waist position when the explosion occurred, throwing me out and the heat was terrific. My first thought was to pull the ripcord (I had been wearing my chute), which I did, and somehow my chute did not catch fire nor was it hit by flying debris.
On the way down I counted chutes and assumed we all got out. At this point, I did not know about the collision with Landahls plane. My only injury was a broken collar bone, pulled muscles in left arm, and sprained ankle when landing. Fred DuBose and I landed within about 200 feet of each other. After getting out of my chute harness and putting on those G.I. shoes strapped to the harness, Fred and I went to help Lt. Landahl who was about 100 yards from us. It was 1000 hours. A Land Watch farmer was coming for us as we approached Landahl. He quickly saw we were trying to help, so he went on searching for the others.
Lt. Landahl was in great pain from wounds in thighs and legs but neither of our first aid kits had any morphine. But we did find some in his kit and gave him a shot. Both of his legs were mutilated, broken in several places and evidently had lost most of his blood during descent. I put a tourniquet on for a bit, but after cutting his trouser leg to see what was wrong, I removed it. His wounds were not bleeding; they had lost most of it already, I suspect. So Fred gave him another shot of morphine. But he died shortly thereafter. We were near a small village, but did not leave the field where we landed until that evening.
Only three men from our ship survived. The tail section must have separated from the rest of the plane at the waist window area, making our escape possible. Three men from the other ship were also there with us at that time.
Joe Morris, tail gunner, also was blown out and free from the debris after the explosion. There was no ball turret gunner on this plane as he, Joe Gasky, had been invited to London by Bebe Daniels to take part in her radio broadcast. So only nine men flew this day, one short.
Walter Tex Lawrence reported that this aircraft, MY EVERLOVIN GAL, appears briefly about halfway through the film, The Men Who Flew the Liberators.
MY EVERLOVIN GAL Crew
1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA Pilot
Robert H. Reeves Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Thomas L. Hine Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Arthur C. Toepel Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Fred A. DuBose Radio Op. WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence Gunner WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Frank Artym Jr. Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph I. Morris Gunner POW
Edward J. Thompson was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1915.
Later, he worked as a mechanic in Cook County, Ill. where he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He received his gunner's wings at the Harlington, TX, Flexible Gunnery School.
In February 1944, he flew overseas with the crew of the B-24 Liberator "Lyndy" to join the 44th Bomber Group,506th Bomber Squadron in Shipdham, England.
During a mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on June 29, 1944, his plane "My Everlovin' Gal" was hit by flak and exploded, killing most of the crew, including Thompson.
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson KIA
Hometown: Chicago Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 16038586
Awards: Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA
MACR #7093
Target: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission Date: 29-Jun-44
Serial Number: #41-28829
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-H
Aircraft Name: MY EVERLOVIN GAL
Location: suburbs of Hannover
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 POW
Specific target here was the Krupp Aircraft Factory. Meeting the stiffest ground fire of the month, the 44th BG had 26 of their 36 aircraft damaged! Two of these planes were lost when flak damaged one, which lost control, and crashed into his wingman. Both 506th Squadron aircraft were lost. Also, one 66th Squadron aircraft was forced to crash-land; one 67th plane returned with one WIA.
The MACR states that this aircraft was hit by the right wing of aircraft #42-51181 as it was attempting to pull out of formation after sustaining flak hits. This occurred at 0952 hours over target of Magdeburg, 30 seconds after bombs away. S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence, left waist gunner, sent this story, Our mission was to Magdeburg, 29 June, 1944. We were on the bomb run and flak was very heavy. I was flying left waist, the bombs were dropped, and then we received some damage from a close one. Pilot Westcott called me to check the damage in the bomb bay. As I opened the interior door, (to the bomb bay) fluid from the hydraulic reservoir was pouring out, and the bomb bay doors were still open, all the bombs had cleared. I learned later that Fred DuBose was on the other, cabin side, of the bomb bay to close the doors when the
fire began in the bomb bay.
The ship flying off Westcotts left wing was Landahls. Both were hit at the same time. Due to the flak hits, Landahl lost control and altitude, dropping right on top of Westcott. Sgt. Lawrence continues: Fred jumped from that position before the explosion. The last thing I remember was closing my door to the bomb bay, then talking to Westcott on the intercom to tell him the problems with our ship. I had returned to the left waist position when the explosion occurred, throwing me out and the heat was terrific. My first thought was to pull the ripcord (I had been wearing my chute), which I did, and somehow my chute did not catch fire nor was it hit by flying debris.
On the way down I counted chutes and assumed we all got out. At this point, I did not know about the collision with Landahls plane. My only injury was a broken collar bone, pulled muscles in left arm, and sprained ankle when landing. Fred DuBose and I landed within about 200 feet of each other. After getting out of my chute harness and putting on those G.I. shoes strapped to the harness, Fred and I went to help Lt. Landahl who was about 100 yards from us. It was 1000 hours. A Land Watch farmer was coming for us as we approached Landahl. He quickly saw we were trying to help, so he went on searching for the others.
Lt. Landahl was in great pain from wounds in thighs and legs but neither of our first aid kits had any morphine. But we did find some in his kit and gave him a shot. Both of his legs were mutilated, broken in several places and evidently had lost most of his blood during descent. I put a tourniquet on for a bit, but after cutting his trouser leg to see what was wrong, I removed it. His wounds were not bleeding; they had lost most of it already, I suspect. So Fred gave him another shot of morphine. But he died shortly thereafter. We were near a small village, but did not leave the field where we landed until that evening.
Only three men from our ship survived. The tail section must have separated from the rest of the plane at the waist window area, making our escape possible. Three men from the other ship were also there with us at that time.
Joe Morris, tail gunner, also was blown out and free from the debris after the explosion. There was no ball turret gunner on this plane as he, Joe Gasky, had been invited to London by Bebe Daniels to take part in her radio broadcast. So only nine men flew this day, one short.
Walter Tex Lawrence reported that this aircraft, MY EVERLOVIN GAL, appears briefly about halfway through the film, The Men Who Flew the Liberators.
MY EVERLOVIN GAL Crew
1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA Pilot
Robert H. Reeves Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Thomas L. Hine Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Arthur C. Toepel Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Fred A. DuBose Radio Op. WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence Gunner WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Frank Artym Jr. Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph I. Morris Gunner POW
Later, he worked as a mechanic in Cook County, Ill. where he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He received his gunner's wings at the Harlington, TX, Flexible Gunnery School.
In February 1944, he flew overseas with the crew of the B-24 Liberator "Lyndy" to join the 44th Bomber Group,506th Bomber Squadron in Shipdham, England.
During a mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on June 29, 1944, his plane "My Everlovin' Gal" was hit by flak and exploded, killing most of the crew, including Thompson.
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson KIA
Hometown: Chicago Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 16038586
Awards: Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA
MACR #7093
Target: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission Date: 29-Jun-44
Serial Number: #41-28829
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-H
Aircraft Name: MY EVERLOVIN GAL
Location: suburbs of Hannover
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 POW
Specific target here was the Krupp Aircraft Factory. Meeting the stiffest ground fire of the month, the 44th BG had 26 of their 36 aircraft damaged! Two of these planes were lost when flak damaged one, which lost control, and crashed into his wingman. Both 506th Squadron aircraft were lost. Also, one 66th Squadron aircraft was forced to crash-land; one 67th plane returned with one WIA.
The MACR states that this aircraft was hit by the right wing of aircraft #42-51181 as it was attempting to pull out of formation after sustaining flak hits. This occurred at 0952 hours over target of Magdeburg, 30 seconds after bombs away. S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence, left waist gunner, sent this story, Our mission was to Magdeburg, 29 June, 1944. We were on the bomb run and flak was very heavy. I was flying left waist, the bombs were dropped, and then we received some damage from a close one. Pilot Westcott called me to check the damage in the bomb bay. As I opened the interior door, (to the bomb bay) fluid from the hydraulic reservoir was pouring out, and the bomb bay doors were still open, all the bombs had cleared. I learned later that Fred DuBose was on the other, cabin side, of the bomb bay to close the doors when the
fire began in the bomb bay.
The ship flying off Westcotts left wing was Landahls. Both were hit at the same time. Due to the flak hits, Landahl lost control and altitude, dropping right on top of Westcott. Sgt. Lawrence continues: Fred jumped from that position before the explosion. The last thing I remember was closing my door to the bomb bay, then talking to Westcott on the intercom to tell him the problems with our ship. I had returned to the left waist position when the explosion occurred, throwing me out and the heat was terrific. My first thought was to pull the ripcord (I had been wearing my chute), which I did, and somehow my chute did not catch fire nor was it hit by flying debris.
On the way down I counted chutes and assumed we all got out. At this point, I did not know about the collision with Landahls plane. My only injury was a broken collar bone, pulled muscles in left arm, and sprained ankle when landing. Fred DuBose and I landed within about 200 feet of each other. After getting out of my chute harness and putting on those G.I. shoes strapped to the harness, Fred and I went to help Lt. Landahl who was about 100 yards from us. It was 1000 hours. A Land Watch farmer was coming for us as we approached Landahl. He quickly saw we were trying to help, so he went on searching for the others.
Lt. Landahl was in great pain from wounds in thighs and legs but neither of our first aid kits had any morphine. But we did find some in his kit and gave him a shot. Both of his legs were mutilated, broken in several places and evidently had lost most of his blood during descent. I put a tourniquet on for a bit, but after cutting his trouser leg to see what was wrong, I removed it. His wounds were not bleeding; they had lost most of it already, I suspect. So Fred gave him another shot of morphine. But he died shortly thereafter. We were near a small village, but did not leave the field where we landed until that evening.
Only three men from our ship survived. The tail section must have separated from the rest of the plane at the waist window area, making our escape possible. Three men from the other ship were also there with us at that time.
Joe Morris, tail gunner, also was blown out and free from the debris after the explosion. There was no ball turret gunner on this plane as he, Joe Gasky, had been invited to London by Bebe Daniels to take part in her radio broadcast. So only nine men flew this day, one short.
Walter Tex Lawrence reported that this aircraft, MY EVERLOVIN GAL, appears briefly about halfway through the film, The Men Who Flew the Liberators.
MY EVERLOVIN GAL Crew
1st/Lt. Gerald S. Westcott KIA Pilot
Robert H. Reeves Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Thomas L. Hine Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Arthur C. Toepel Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edward J. Thompson Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Fred A. DuBose Radio Op. WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Walter V. Lawrence Gunner WIA/POW
S/Sgt. Frank Artym Jr. Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph I. Morris Gunner POW
Inscription
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Chicago, Ill, on 14 Jan 1942
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