Thornton served as a First Lieutenant on B-17E (#41-2428), 42nd Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on May 31, 1941, prior to the war, in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Radio Operator and also as Single, without dependents.

His B-17 took off from Espiritu Santo on a mission over the northern Solomon Islands. They were reported to have crashed in the sea off Choiseul Island.

Thornton was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. He was awarded the "Silver Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster", Distinquished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart.

Service # 0-432384

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Airmen who perished on B-17E (#41-2428):
Note: The Pilot & Co-Pilot were members of the 5th Bomber Group. The crew was assigned to the 42nd BS, 11th BG.

Caviness, Sanford S ~ Corp, Missiouri
Harp, James R ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Oklahoma
Krantz, Howard L ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, Delaware
Lewis, Thornton H ~ 1st Lt, California
Majeski, Henry ~ Pfc, Pennsylvania
Miller, Elwood E ~ T/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Noble, Charles M ~ T/Sgt, Maryland
Stephanik, Walter E ~ Corp, Pennsylvania
Thomas, Omar D ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, West Virginia

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )

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Thornton served as a First Lieutenant on B-17E (#41-2428), 42nd Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on May 31, 1941, prior to the war, in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Radio Operator and also as Single, without dependents.

His B-17 took off from Espiritu Santo on a mission over the northern Solomon Islands. They were reported to have crashed in the sea off Choiseul Island.

Thornton was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war. He was awarded the "Silver Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster", Distinquished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Purple Heart.

Service # 0-432384

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Airmen who perished on B-17E (#41-2428):
Note: The Pilot & Co-Pilot were members of the 5th Bomber Group. The crew was assigned to the 42nd BS, 11th BG.

Caviness, Sanford S ~ Corp, Missiouri
Harp, James R ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Oklahoma
Krantz, Howard L ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, Delaware
Lewis, Thornton H ~ 1st Lt, California
Majeski, Henry ~ Pfc, Pennsylvania
Miller, Elwood E ~ T/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Noble, Charles M ~ T/Sgt, Maryland
Stephanik, Walter E ~ Corp, Pennsylvania
Thomas, Omar D ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, West Virginia

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )

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