Gordon R. Tomea, Jr. was born in New Jersey on January 24, 1920 in New Jersey. His parents were Gordon R. Tomea Sr (1898 – 1977) and Anna Tomea (1897 – 1982). He completed three years of high school, and worked in a semiskilled occupation in trades and services. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 23, 1942. His home of record was 6-14 Sixth Street, Fair Lawn, Bergen County, New Jersey. After enlistment, he married Helen M. (Plishka) Tomea and had a son, Gordon R. Tomea III (14 Feb 1944 – 15 Jul 2010), who was born at Passaic, New Jersey.

He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Ira L. Ball, in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at U.S. Army Air Forces Station 137, near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Ball's crew flew B-17G 43-37569 in the number five position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The 487th Bomb Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. Lt Tomea and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. The aircraft broke up and most of the wreckage fell in the Ambleve River at Gouffre d'Aywaille, at about 50.4763°N, 5.6577°E. (Gouffre d'Aywaille is the gulf of the Ambleve River near Aywaille—a wider, deeper section of the river just west of Aywaille.) The tail section fell in a small stone quarry near the hamlet of Chambralles, just west of Septroux, Belgium. Two men survived.

Lt Tomea's remains were returned to the United States and he is now buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey.

B-17G 43-37569 crew:
• Ball, Ira L – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Tomea Jr, Gordon R – 1/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Sperber, Harold P – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Broom, John C – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Parks, Warren H – T/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Lull, Robert H – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Gaudin Jr, Duffy J – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Conery, John J – S/Sgt – Waist gunner – KIA
• Becker, Cuno V – 1/Lt – Officer Tail Gunner – KIA

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com