Thomas Robert Van Horn

Monuments

437th Troop Carrier Group Plaques

C-47 42-100801 and 42-108884 Crash Monument

Name:

Robert Van Horn Thomas

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-806938

Unit:

83rd Troop Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group

Date of Death:

1944-09-17

State:

Cemetery:

Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Kentucky

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

13-14

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Robert Van Horn Thomas was born on September 6, 1916. He served in the 83rd Troop Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of the C-47 #42-100801 "Picadilly Filly" during World War II.

On September 17, 1944, the C-47 was towing a glider during Operation Market Garden en route to Eindhoven, Netherlands when the no. 2 engine was hit by flak. The glider was released and the C-47 crashed out of control killing all four crew members. 2LT Thomas is buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. He also has a cenotaph located in Baltimore Cemetery, in Maryland. Together in the same grave are 1LT Gilmore, SSGT Golden, 1LT Peterson, SSGT Rice, and 2LT Thomas.

Crew of C-47 #42-100801 "Picadilly Filly":
Charles Gilmore - Pilot
Robert Thomas - Co-Pilot
William Golden - Radio Operator
Guy Difalco - Flight Engineer

Source of information: www.abmc.gov, www.americanairmuseum.com