World War II Honoree

Thomas G. Baum

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He enlisted on December 19, 1941. He served as a a Flight Officer in the 566th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. When on a mission to bomb enemy targets at Cognac, France, he was killed in action in Paimboeuf, Saint-Nazaire, on December 5, 1943 when his B-24 Liberator took a direct hit by flak and was shot down. Received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for his participation in the Ploesti raid, "Operation Tidal Wave," on August 1, 1943. Flying Co-Pilot on the "Little Gramper," it was one of the most daring raids of the war. Coming in at tree level, the "Sky Scorpions" destroyed the Steaua Romana oil refinery.