Thomas H. Lewis served in the 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-97295 during World War II.

On May 27, 1944, his crew took off from Station 153 airfield in Framlingham, England, for a mission in Karlsruhe, Germany. At 13:06H, while returning from their mission, their plane was hit by flak and crashed 300 meters east of Cauchie-d'Ecques in the commune of Ecques, France. The plane hooked an electric pylon while attempting a landing. This incident killed five members of the crew, while the other five were able to survive but were taken as prisoners. SSgt Lewis was one of the survivors. He was hospitalized and then taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net