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360th Thomas Crew Earl N. Thomas, Pilot

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EARL N. THOMAS CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 11 Jan 1944)

(Back L-R) Capt Earl N. Thomas (P)(1), 1Lt Edgar C. Miller (CP)(2),
1Lt Clarence V. Walenta (N), 1Lt Harold L. Scott (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt John W. Mason (E), S/Sgt Carl O. Books (WG),
S/Sgt William Flenniken (WG), T/Sgt Gayther B. Crowder (R)(3),
S/Sgt Roy D. Harvey (TG), S/Sgt Harold A. Johnston (BTG)

Crew Notes:

1. Capt Earl N. Thomas (P) - Was made a lead Crew Pilot on 30 April 1944, Flew 33 Credited combat missions. Completed combat tour on 23 June 1944
2. 1Lt Edgar C. Miller (CP) - Was upgraded from, CoPilot to Pilot on 05 May 1944. Flew 18 missions with the Earl N. Thomas Crew and then flew 14 credited missions as a First Pilot (See: 360BS Edgar C. Miller Crew Photo). Completed combat tour on 02 June 1944.
3. T/Sgt Gayther B. Crowder (E) - Originally member of the Lt Arthur C. Way Crew. Flew 2 credited missions with Lt Way and then became a replacement Radio Operator with other crews. Flew 8 credited missions with the Thomas Crew when he completed his combat tour on 8 March 1944. Was replaced with T/Sgt Victor W. Dewitte, who flew 15 missions with Lt Thomas and 4 with Lt Miller. Flew his last mission with Capt Thomas on 6 June 1944.

All of the original Earl N. Thomas Crewmen completed their combat tours without injury -thanks to the good piloting by Lt Earl N.Thomas and Lt Edgar C. Miller and excellent teamwork by the rest of the crew. Their missions were flown during a period of heavy losses by the 303rd BG(H) and Eighth Air Force.

[photo courtesy of Edgar C. Miller]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]