Thursday, February 18, 2010

Thomas H. Sharp, Air Force

From: Thomas H. Sharp
7236 Alexander Dr.
Dallas, Texas 75214-3215
Phone: 214-821-9237

In January 1942, the Army Air Corps accepted me for training and I withdrew from The University of Texas. On finishing bombardier training in September 1942, I received orders to report for combat training in a B-26 Martin Marauder Bomber with the 3rd Air Force in Ft. Myers, Florida.

After finishing combat training in April 1943, orders came for our crew to remain in the 3rd Bomber Command. My assignment was to be a Bombardier Instructor. As crew training expanded, we moved to Avon Park, Florida, McDill Field in Tampa, Florida and then to Lake Charles, La. In October 1944, the original co-pilot and tail gunner had been casualties flying with other crews. At that time our crew requested combat duty and we were sent to the 9th Air Force Medium Bomber Group in Europe. The 9th duty was to support the Western Front Allies in demolishing factories, marshaling yards, bridges and any other strategic targets of the enemy.

Our crew was immediately assigned to the 9th Air Force Pathfinder Squadron. The technologic equipment used by Pathfinder, could seek out and pinpoint a target that was not visible from the air. When the various groups in the Air Force could not go visually with the Nordon Bombsight, Pathfinder was called and we would lead the group to the target and they would drop bombs on the command from our equipment.

Our crew flew 26 missions when the ground was not visible from the air leading the planes assigned to bomb the target. The Air Force credited our crew with 1-1/4 missions for each mission we flew for R&R purposes because it was the German High Command theory that if their anti-aircraft gunners could hit the lead ship, it could cause the mission to be aborted. This gave the crew 32 missions.

The 9th Air Force awarded me the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, six Oak Leaf Clusters.

My heart goes out for the many men and crews who lost their lives in training and in combat. I give special thanks to my pilot who was with me from beginning training to the end of combat, to all the American and Allied pilots and crews who decimated the German Air Force: to our army and allied armies who did the real hard, nasty, dirty, dangerous work and to the American People who made available the equipment and supplies needed to defeat the enemy.

On being discharged with the rank of Captain, I returned to school in December 1945.
I am glad it’s over and I am thankful to still be here.

No comments:

Post a Comment