World War II Honoree

Thomas C. Conzoner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Medford, Oregon

Honored By

Walter Lawrence

Relationship

Friend

HE WAS STATIONED AT SHIPDHAM AERODROME, NEAR NORWICH ENGLAND, FLYING MISSIONS AS BOMBARDIER IN THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 2ND AIR DIVISION, 44TH BOMB GROUP AND 506TH SQUADRON. ON HIS 25TH MISSION JUNE 29, 1944 THEY WERE TO BOMB THE KRUPP AIRCRAFT FACTORY, MAGDEBURG, GERMANY, IN THE B-24 'CAPE COD SPECIAL' AND ANOTHER 'MY EVERLOVIN' GAL WERE BOTH HIT BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND EXPLODED AT 21,000' ALTITUDE. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO OPEN HIS PARACHUTE AND LANDED SAFELY, BECOMING A PRISONER OF WAR. HE RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON.