S.Sgt. Carpenter was a gunner on a B-25-H, and is also qualified as a co-pilot and engineer. He left for the South Pacific in January, and was flying from New Guinea when reported mission in action.

S/Sgt. Carpenter enlisted in the Air Corps in May, 1959, and was trained at Maxwell Field, Craig Field, Chanute Field, Ill., Westover Air Base, Mass., and Tyndall Field. He had been a member of the ground crew before taking training as a gunner and flyer.

He is a graduate of the Georgiana High School, in the class of 1939. He entered the Army immediately on graduation. Friends sincerely hope that later news will give the information that Thomas is safe.

Greenville Advocate, 20 Apr 1944, Thu, Page 1

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Thomas' remains were found and recovered in the early 1980's. He was interred in the Oakwood Cemetery, Georgiana, Alabama.

" Click Here " for that record.

A "Rosette" was placed in front of his name here at Manila to signify that his remains were recovered.

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Thomas served as a Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Butler County, Alabama prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on June 26, 1940, prior to the war, at Spence Field, Moultrie, Georgia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Divorced, without dependents.

Thomas was a passenger on B-24D "Weezie" #42-41081 which was part of the CRTC (Combat Replacement Training Center), 5th Air Force.

The "Weezie" was originally part of the 320th Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group but was transferred to the CRTC (Combat Replacement Training Center) at Nadzab No. 4 Airfield known as Newton Field in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

They took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby on a courier flight bound for Nadzab Airfield. Aboard were 3 crew members and 19 passengers. Over the Owen Stanley Mountains, this B-24 crashed into Mount Thumb, killing everyone aboard on impact. It has not been determined why they crashed.

Thomas was declared "Missing In Action" as a result of this crash.

His status was later changed to "Killed In The Line Of Duty" when his remains were recovered.

Service # 7080836

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Servicemen who perished on B-24D #42-41081:

Allred, Robert E ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, IA

Atkins, Harold T ~ 1st Sgt, Passenger, MT

Barnard, Charles R ~ Capt, Passenger, OH

Butler, Clint P ~ Sgt, Passenger, AR

Carpenter, Thomas J, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, AL

Frazier, Weldon W ~ 1st Sgt, Passenger, TX

Geis, Raymond J, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, IL

Ginter, Frank ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, NY

Gross, Stanley G ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, IL

Holm, Keith T ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NE

Kachorek, Joseph E ~ T/4, Passenger, WI

Landrum, Harvey E, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, TX

Lawrence, Stanley C ~ Sgt, Passenger, WI

Loop, Carlin E ~ Pfc, Passenger, KS

Mettam, Joseph B ~ Cpl, Passenger, CA

Samples, Charles, Jr ~ Sgt, Passenger, WV

Shrake, William M ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, IN

Staseowski, John J ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, MA

Steiner, Charles R ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, OH

Thompson, Robert C ~ S/Sgt, Passenger, AL

Walker, Melvin F ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, WI

Young, Emory C ~ 2nd Lt, Passenger, IL

Bio & Listing by:

Russell S. "Russ" Pickett

Special thanks to:

Janice Hollandsworth for noticing that his remains were recovered!

( Information from multiple sources, including Military & Private, were used to compile his biography and the crew listing. )

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