Alford Thomas Lewis

Name:

Thomas Lewis Alford

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-667908

Unit:

556th Bomber Squadron, 387th Bomber Group, Medium

Date of Death:

1944-02-15

State:

Georgia

Cemetery:

Marseilles Cemetery, West Point, Troup County, Georgia

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Thomas Lewis Alford was born on October 30, 1920. He was the son of Lewis Bartley Alford and Eva Marie Adams Alford.

Thomas served in the 556th Bomber Squadron, 387th Bomber Group, Medium, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-26 Marauder #41-31682 'Jolly Roger/Shady Lady' during World War II.

On February 15, 1944, the crew took off at Sation 162 airfield in Chipping Ongar, England, on a bombing mission at La Glacerie, a suburb of Cherborugh, France. Shot down by flak at 10:56H, four crew members were killed in this incident, including 1Lt Alford. The other two were able to bail out but were captured and taken as prisoners. Their plane crashed at Le Doucet, in the commune of Gonneville-Le Theil.

The bodies of those who were killed were temporarily buried in the Cherbourg Cemetery until later were transferred. 1Lt Alford is now buried in the Marseilles Cemetery, West Point, Troup County, Georgia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net