World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Thomas Ashworth, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS NOVEMBER 26, 1941 AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVED AS A C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TRANSPORT COPILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 77TH SQUADRON, 435TH GROUP, 53RD TROOP CARRIER WING, U.S. 9TH AIR FORCE. KILLED IN ACTION ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 4 OTHER AIRCREW MEN AND 14 PARATROOPERS WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN AFTER ENCOUNTERING HEAVY ARTILLERY FLAK IN THE PICAUVILLE AREA ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA WHILE APPROACHING THE 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY-G’S DESIGNATED DROP ZONE. HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AIR MEDAL AND A PURPLE HEART. THE AIR MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT.