World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Thomas Alvin Bell
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Grenada, Mississippi
Honored By
Mrs. Barbara Trapp Bell
Relationship
Widow
PILOT OF B-17. MEMBER OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE. SERVED OCTOBER 1942 TO NOVEMBER 1945. 3RD AIR DIVISION, 4TH WING AND 93RD WING 385TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 551ST SQUADRON. FLEW 35 COMBAT MISSIONS. SHOT DOWN 3 TIMES BEHIND GERMAN LINES AND ESCAPED. AWARDED THREE BRONZE STARS FOR CENTRAL EUROPE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE; AIR MEDAL WITH 7 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.