Thomas J FOSTER

 

Photo FDLM

Source : Don

ARMY SERIAL NUMBERO-758789
AGE20 yo
DATE OF BIRTH1924 Jackson, Hinds County, MISSISSIPPI
STATEMISSISSIPPI
FAMILY 
RANK1st Lieutenant
FONCTIONPilot
JOB before ENLISTEMENT--MI
DATE of ENLISTEMENT--
SQUADRON357th Fighter Squadron
GROUP355th Fighter Group
ARMY8th Air Force
DATE OF DEATH7 june 1944

foster thomas j tombe

Source : F Lavernhe

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHAunay-sous-Auneau
DATA PLAN

P-51 Mustang - type B-15 - s/n 42-106742 OS*G "Custard 88"

P51
Take-off: 06h54 station 122 Steeple Morden , Cambridgeshire UK - Lt Foster flew No. 4 in
Mission: Bombing Rambouillet sector and  Eure-et-Loir
Shot by Focke Wulf 190 fighter

(Oblt Engau du 2./JG11) à 08h25 -

The aircraft crashed and burned with his driver.

CEMTERY TEMPORARY

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Blosville N°3508

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY de Colleville

Plan du Normandy American Cemetery

PlotRowGrave
C444
DECORATION
Purple Heart
 
Air Medal + OLC
Photo FDLM
 
Photo FDLM
usaf 355fg 357fs
STORY
 

At 6:54 am, around twenty P-51s of the 357th Fighter Squadron took off from their base in England for a bombing mission in the vicinity of Rambouillet and the North-East of Eure-et-Loir.

The pilots McFARLANE, GUERRANT, HOLLMAN and DEBACKER of the "yellow" flight were separated from the remainder of the squadron during the crossing of the Channel due to the numerous clouds.

They then descended to an altitude of 2000 feet (600 meters) and found the remainder of the 357th Fighter Squadron.

Arriving in the Rambouillet region, around 8:20 am, the twenty P-51s began their tactical bombardment, the "blue" Flight first dropping its bombs on a train.

 

 

foster james thomas

Source : Don

The French authorities at the time also noted, at around 8:30 am, the bombardment of the Aunay-Tréon station (South of Dreux) and its fuel tanks, injuring one person.

But, very quickly, the 357th Fighter Squadron interrupted its mission ... due to the arrival of German fighters in the vicinity.

From the start of the fight, the ENGAU Oblt of 2./JG11 targeted one of the P-51s which received several fatal blows.

The American hunter ignited immediately before disappearing while climbing up into the clouds.

A few seconds later, it came out, streaking straight towards the ground. His weapons were working full fire towards the ground.

Did the flames explode the bullets?

Was the pilot dead with the finger operating his weapons?

The Allied pilot could not eject from his aircraft.

 

foster james thomas

Source : Don

 

foster james thomas

Source : Don

Obviously, the P-51 fatally hit by the ENGAU Oblt was that of Lt Thomas FOSTER (matr. 0-758189, code name "Custard 88").

Indeed, this P-51 (Nr 42-106742, code OS-G) crashed at the start of hostilities at 08:25, south-east of Auneau.

A German report formally located the crash site and specified that this Mustang was 100% destroyed and the pilot's body was found in the aircraft.

Lt Lieutenant Edward McNEFF, leader of the "blue" Flight witnessed the crash of his comrade who belonged to the same Flight (4th position).

He clarified that the "blue" Flight had just performed its dive bombing mission on a train when he saw Lt FOSTER's P-51 burning to the ground.

No radio message came from his plane.

The windshield of the Fw-190 being smeared with oil from Lt FOSTER's damaged P-51, Oblt ENGAU gave up the fight and had to go to the Dreux air base with some of his comrades to refuel. fuel

 

The morning of June 7, 1944 was the subject of a major air battle for the 355th Fighter Group which lost 5 aircraft including 4 in Eure-et-Loir.


INFORMATION SOURCEMARIE Cyrille - Francecrashes39-45.net
PICTURE SOURCEFrédéric LAVERNHE - Findagrave.com(Don) www.ar15.com
PROGRAMMERFrédéric & Renaud
Partagez moi ...
Comments  
# RE: FOSTER Thomas J - 357 FS 355 FGColonel Stephen Wood, USAF, Ret. 2021-01-27 00:59
This is an outstanding website! I wanted to pass along, that this gentleman was shot down by Oblt Engau as you stated. Here is a website with a picture of the actual claim for the "victory" by Oblt Engau.

https://www.historyhit.com/the-crippling-losses-of-the-luftwaffe-during-operation-overlord/

Veuillez pardonner mon pauvre français. Votre site web est exceptionnel et un bel hommage à ces hommes!
Reply
# MerciFrédéric 2021-01-27 08:27
Many thanks for your reaction. you can return to the portrait of Thomas J. we have just updated the file.
Reply