Akron, Ohio, USAFlight Lieutenant Lewis was safe back in the UK 1945-05-09
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 344
Lewis, Thomas William (Flight Lieutenant)
Prisoner of War 1943-April-17
Birth Date: 1922-July-15
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Akron, Ohio, USA
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
83 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Strike To Defend
Base
RAF Wyton
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Position
Bomb Aimer
Service Numbers
J/16111
PoW: 1270
Crew or Other Personnel
Lancaster R5484
Mission
Lancaster Mk.I R5484
Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia 1943-April-16 to 1943-April-17
83 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Wyton
83 Squadron (Strike To Defend), Pathfinder Force, RAF Wyton. Lancaster BI aircraft R 5484 OL-V was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Kurt Karsten of the 7/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 from Juvincourt airfield during an operation against the Skoda Works in Pilsen, Czech Republic. The Lancaster crashed onto the house of Madame Chedeville, in the centre of Pontavert, Aisne, France
Flying Officer GA McNichol (RCAF) was killed in action
Flight Lieutenant HH Beaupre DFC (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class CE Hobbs (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant TW Lewis DFC & Bar (RCAF)(USA), Flight Sergeant GS MacFarlane (RAF), Warrant Officer GC Mott (RAF) and Sergeant HR Willis (RAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
[Royal Air Force serial and Image Database]...
Lancaster R5484 Mk.I - Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia - 1943-04-16 to 1943-04-17
Squadron: 83 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-04-16
Completion Date: 1943-04-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Pilsen Czechoslovakia
Target Specific: Skoda Works
Base: RAF Wyton
Take Off Time: 21:17:00
Squadron Code: OL-V
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: onto the house of Madame Chedeville, in the centre of Pontavert, Aisne
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Oberfeldwebel Kurt Karsten of the 7/NJG 4
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group April 16/17, 1943
27 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Pilsen. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 31,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was a failure as there was no damage to the Skoda armaments factory.
While the Halifaxes went to Pilsen, 100 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425,426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Mannheim.The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing118,000 lbs of high explosives and 91,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
83 Squadron (Strike To Defend), Pathfinder Force, RAF Wyton. Lancaster BI aircraft R 5484 OL-V was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Kurt Karsten of the 7/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 from Juvincourt airfield during an operation against the Skoda Works in Pilsen, Czech Republic. The Lancaster crashed onto the house of Madame Chedeville, in the centre of Pontavert, Aisne, France
Flying Officer GA McNichol (RCAF) was killed in action
Flight Lieutenant HH Beaupre DFC (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class CE Hobbs (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant TW Lewis DFC & Bar (RCAF)(USA), Flight Sergeant GS MacFarlane (RAF), Warrant Officer GC Mott (RAF) and Sergeant HR Willis (RAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
[Royal Air Force serial and Image Database]...