1st Lieutenant Jay V. “Herky” Thomson was a native of Anacostes, WA. He received his primary training at Corsicana Field, Class 43-C basic at Waco and advanced and his wings at Aloe Field, Victoria. Lt. Thomson was stationed at High Halden Air Force Base near Kent in England since October, 1943, had completed 60 missions before D-Day, and had won the Congressional Air Medal and five Oak Leaf Clusters. He was a pilot in the 365th Fighter Squadron, the “Orange Tails”, and flew a P-47 Thunderbolt. On July 14th, several squads went to bomb a railroad tunnel near Neubourg. A report stated the four planes in Thomson's squad were swarmed by more than 50 German planes over Brezolles, west of Dreux. Thomson's plane was hit by an ME109 and an FW190. He was listed as missing. However, the local French civilians had recovered the body and the Souvenir Francais helped Thomson’s brother find it. Simultaneous memorial services were held both in the village and Causland Memorial Park.