Name:
Francis Thackray
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-799270
Unit:
565th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1944-02-29
State:
California
Cemetery:
Golden Gate Natl Cemetery, San Bruno, CA
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:
Observer Pilot of the B-24 Liberator “Blunder Bus” which took off from Norfolk at 0800 as part of 420 American bombers determined to destroy the FG Farben chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The plane was shot down by Fw190 of the JG2 over Chateauneuf sur Loire between 1300 and 1330. SSgt Dillon perished in the crash, but the remaining crew were able to bail out. LT Thackray, who was born on 19 December 1918 in Rolling Hills, CA, successfully bailed out of the plane. He was killed by an avalanche as he was attempting to cross the Pyrenees on 29 February 1944.