L'Estrange Thomas Aloysius, Jr.

Name:

Thomas Aloysius, Jr. L'Estrange

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

33401456

Unit:

603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1945-02-03

State:

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Thomas Aloysius L'Estrange Jr. was born on March 22, 1922, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Thomas A. L'Estrange and Ella M Rewcroft L'Estrange. He enlisted in the service on December 3, 1942. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #43-38697 during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the B-17G 43-38697 was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17 42-97387, nicknamed "Maude An' Maria," from the 602nd Bomb Squadron of the same group. The collision occurred near Lehmke, Germany, resulting in the crash of both aircraft. Tragically, eight of the nine crew members aboard 43-38697 were killed in the collision, and only one survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

SSgt L'Estrange was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Thomas A. L'Estrange's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org