Thomas Haigh was born on July 20, 1918, in Caroline County, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas N. Haigh and Florence Alma Pugh Haigh. He enlisted in the service on March 11, 1942. He served in the 512th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24D Liberator #42-40658 during World War II.
On December 28, 1943, the aircraft was lost during combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II while flying from San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy, on a mission to destroy the marshalling yards at Vicenza. During the attack, the bomber was badly damaged after being engaged by a German Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter and was ultimately shot down near Monselice in the province of Padua. The aircraft was destroyed in the encounter, resulting in the deaths of four crew members, while the remaining airmen survived the loss.
1Lt Haigh was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Cittą Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviation-safety.net/, weremember.abmc.gov
PRIVATE CITIZENS SUPPORTING AMERICA'S HERITAGE
American
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
Haigh Thomas
Name:
Thomas Haigh
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-797524
Unit:
512th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group
Date of Death:
1943-12-28
State:
Virginia
Cemetery:
Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Cittą Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy
Plot:
E
Row:
11
Grave:
24
Decoration:
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Comments: