Thomas Lawrence “Tom” Yankus, Sr. was born on August 5, 1923, in Queens, New York. He was the son of William A. Yankus and Margaret Skroblus Yankus. He was married to Eileen Murray Yankus.
Tom attended Andrew Jackson High School in Laurelton, NY, and worked for Sperry Gyroscope prior to enlisting in the US Army Air Corp. He joined the Air Corps in December 1942 at the age of 19. Tom served in the 335th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, as a Radio Operator and Corporal on the B-17 #42-31565 during World War II.
On March 4, 1944, at 0630H, his crew took off from Station 119 airfield in Horham, England, on a mission to Berlin, Germany. Shot down by flak, then by a fighter, the crew evacuated the plane by parachute. The plane, on autopilot, deviates from its initial direction (towards the sea) and heads back to Belgium, where it crashed at St. Symphorien near Mons.
All members survived, except for SSgt McCarthy, who was killed when his parachute failed to open. Six members were taken as prisoners, while the three remaining (including Cpt Yankus) evaded German capture. Cpt Yankus was one of the 152 allied airmen and soldiers who were helped and hidden in the Freteval Forest camp by the French Resistance to evade German capture. He returned to the UK on August 18, 1944.
After the war, Tom married his high school sweetheart Eileen Murray in New York on April 21, 1945. During their lives together, he and Eileen were involved in several business ventures. They began by owning a paint and decorating store on Long Island, New York. Their next adventure led them to be the builders, owners, and operators of Fairview Acres, a motel in the Adirondacks' mountains. They moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1956 in search of a milder climate. There Tom owned a residential home-building business. In the 1960s, Tom went to work for Eveland Brother's General Contractors and ended his career with Rowe and Newberry General Contractors where he built many commercial buildings that still grace St. Petersburg. After retirement, Tom and Eileen moved to Palm Bay, Florida. Eileen sadly passed in February 1996.
In 1999, Tom met Vivian Harris, who became his companion for the next 21 years. During this time, Tom was able to return to France, where he and Vivian were greeted by many of the people he had worked with while Tom was with the French Underground.
Tom died on May 29, 2022, at the age of 98, in Tallahassee, Florida. He is now buried in the Florida National Cemetery.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net