Staff Sergeant THOMAS McLAIN POWER KIA,

Staff Sergeant THOMAS McLAIN POWER KIA, US Army Air Corp. Son of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Lewis Power, Shreveport. He was born July 28, 1923, and attended Line Avenue School and Byrd High, graduating in 1941. He was with Arkansas Fuel Oil Company at the time of his enlistment May 23, 1942, at the age of 18. After initial ground training at Keesler Field, Aircraft Mechanics School, he went to Aerial Gunnery School, Wendover Field, and took advanced training at Gowen Field to March, 1943, completing his training at Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, in May, 1943. He left Bangor, Maine, in a Flying Fortress on May 23, 1943, for the Eighth Air Force Base in England where he served with the 401st Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group. He fought in bombing missions over Northern France and Germany until his plane went down in the English Channel off Beachy Head, August 31, 1943, returning from a combat mission. He was killed in action at the age of 20. The Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded February 2, 1944, and the Purple Heart Medal (PHM) was presented posthumously January 21, 1944. He also received a Citation of Honor from General H. H. Arnold, commanding the Army Air Forces.

 

Source:

1- THE FIGHTING MEN OF LOUISIANA – LOUISIANA HISTORICAL INSTITUTE – 1946