World War II Honoree

Thomas B. Applewhite

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Children, Grandchildren & Nephew

1ST LIEUTENANT, 3RD BOMB DIVISION, 385TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 548TH SQUADRON. BOMBARDIER ON B-17 THE 'WILD HARE'. ARRIVED IN ENGLAND DURING LAST WEEK OF AUGUST 1943. COMPLETED 10-1/2 RAIDS. ON OCTOBER 14, 1943, DURING HIS 5TH RAID OVER SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY HE EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS BY SECURING THREE LOOSE BOMBS THAT WERE STARTING TO ACTIVATE. HIS AIRCRAFT'S BOMB BAY DOORS WERE OPEN AT HIGH ALTITUDE AT THE TIME. HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON NOVEMBER 11, 1943 ON THE MUENSTER, GERMANY RAID. THE PILOT MANAGED TO FLY ACROSS THE DUTCH BORDER AND TOMMY PARACHUTED 5 MILES INSIDE HOLLAND. WITH THE HELP OF THE RESISTANCE, HE ESCAPED THROUGH THE COMETE ESCAPE ROUTE. THIS ROUTE LED FROM HOLLAND, TO BRUSSELS, TO FRANCE, OVER THE PYRENEES TO SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN, TO GIBRALTAR AND FINALLY TO ENGLAND. HIS SUCCESSFUL EVASION TOOK 3-1/2 MONTHS BEFORE HE FINALLY REACHED ENGLAND.