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McCaslin Thomas Joseph "Tom"

Name:
Thomas Joseph "Tom" McCaslin
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
17038437
Unit:
555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1944-06-22
State:
Nebraska
Cemetery:
Normandy American Cemetery, France
Plot:
Tablets of the Missing
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Gold Stars, Purple Heart
Comments:

Thomas Joseph "Tom" McCaslin was born on August 26, 1918, in Havre, Montana. He was the son of George Edward McCaslin and Elizabeth M. O'Connor McCaslin. He was a graduate of Creighton Prep. Thomas served in the 555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Rear Gunner of the B-26 #442-96087 YA*O during World War II.

On June 22, 1944, the 386th BG flew in two squadrons on a mission to bomb a German headquarters in Caen, France, one of which is his. His crew took off from Station 164 in Great Dunmow, England, and while over Caen, the plane was achieved by the flak (German DCA) with a direct hit. The projectile passes through the plane and causes an explosion in flight. The crews of other aircraft in the formation are witnesses of falling debris B26-B YA-O code and report when establishing the MACR loss record (Missing Air Crew Report) 6383. Their plane crashed at Baron-sur-Odon.

SSgt McCaslin was declared "Missing in Action" and his name is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He also has a memorial in the Saint Mary's Cemetery, Nebraska. His name is also honored on a plaque displayed at Rosenblatt stadium in Omaha, also in Nebraska.

B-26 #B-26 #442-96087 aircrew:
Lt-Col Don L. Weiss - Pilot
1Lt Axel P. Slustrop - Co-Pilot
1Lt David Meserow - Bombardier
1Lt George H. Hazlett - Navigator
T/Sgt Robert E. Perkins - Machine Gunner
S/Sgt John H. Canty - Machine Gunner
S/Sgt Thomas McCaslin - Rear Gunner
Capt Orville Donald "Don" Thatcher - Passennger

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, francecrashes39-45.net, aviation-safety.net