World War II Honoree

Thomas P. Haney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mark Haney

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN THE 320TH BOMB GROUP IN NORTH AFRICA FLYING 55 MISSIONS, 10 AS A TAIL GUNNER AND 45 AS A TOP TURRET GUNNER ON A B-26 AIRCRAFT. ALSO PROVIDED AIR SUPPORT FOR INVASIONS OF SICILY, SALERNO AND ANZIO, ITALY. ON HIS 9TH MISSION HE RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART FOR SHRAPNEL WOUNDS TO HIS FACE. ON APRIL 22, 1943 HE WAS CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN AN ENEMY PLANE, ON JUNE 15, 1943 HIS PLANE WAS TEMPORARILY REPORTED MISSING AFTER SUSTAINING HEAVY DAMAGE OVER SICILY AND ON JANUARY 22, 1944 HE SUFFERED A BROKEN BACK IN A PLANE CRASH. HE WAS AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE STARS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH SIX OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE.