Thurman Evans Sands was born on 7 October 1924 in Lynnville, Tennessee. He was the son of Joe Lonnie Sands and Mary Lovera Thurman Sands.

Thurman was in a flight of 479th FG Mustangs out of Wattisham, England, on navigation exercises involving low-level flying. His machine was an old P-51B #43-6393, which was retired from combat duties and used by newly-arrived US fliers.

At 11.15 AM, the fighter planes descended from 2,500 feet for a low-level run towards the Suffolk coast. His plane was so low it went below the telegraph wires and clipped the locomotive hauling the train from Ipswich to Bury St Edmunds. It then crashed, causing a fire scar across three fields.

Forty-two years later, near the backplate of the aircraft's machine gun were found English coins dated 1944-these, together with pieces of the plane, are on display in the East Essex Aviation Museum together with a fine photograph of him in uniform.

2Lt Sands is now buried in the Lynnwood Cemetery, Lynnville, Giles County, Tennessee, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com