This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bosma48 Surnames: McGalliard Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.brazoria/1084/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My name is René Bosma en I live in the little Dutch town of Oosterwolde. Since 4 years I have been investigating the Air war over the Northern part of the Netherlands. It is my main objective to gather as much information as possible about the aircraft and the airmen which came down over the province of Friesland during the Second World War. We consider it very important to keep the memory of the Air war alive, especially the many flyers paid with their lives for our Freedom. One of the aircraft I research is a American B-17 with nickname "Las Vegas Avenger" (serial: 42-30603). The heavy bomber belongs to 306 Bomb Group/ 324 Bomb Squadron. in the morning of the 26th of November 1943 the B-17 lakes up from the American airfield at Thurleigh, England. The mission for this day were the city of Bremen. On the way to the target the plain has some technical problems and one of the 3 engines went down. 5 minutes for they reach Bremen they became a strangler so they became a easy target for German fighter. After releasing the bombs on the city. But the way back to England was long also when your all along in the sky so there's no cover from other B-17's from the Group. Short after that the Las Vegas Avenger get in a fight with several German fighters. The ten heavy machine guns on board of the Flying Fortress going wild en 2 fighter could be shot down. But also 2 engines of the B-17 were hit. But the fighting continues en sadly 4 of the 10 man crew get! killed. The First Pilot en Commander made an assessment that the B-17 never get back to England again. They now flying over Dutch countryside en the 2 pilot's decided to gif the balling out signal. Al the 6 man came same on the ground with their parachute. But one of the man broke his ankle so another man of the crew take care of the men were taken POW by the Germans. The 4 other man were helped by the Dutch underground en through various hiding places they came to Amsterdam were they also arrested by the Gestapo. All the 6 man came into different POW camps in Germany en stayed there till the end of the War. The 4 brave young Americans who sadly lost their live were buried at the local cemetery at Sint Nicolaasga. Near this little town in the North of the Netherlands the B-17 smashed into a farmland. After the war the 4 body's were reburied at the American War Cemetery at Margraten the Netherlands were they still resting till today. The 2nd Pilot of the 42-30603 crew was 1st Lieutenant Thomas Robert McGalliard. He was born on the 10th of July 1922 at Denton, TX. His parents were B Raymond Leland McGalliard (1880-1971) & Ella Carrie Masten McGalliard (1884-1966). Thomas has 2 siblings Ella Juanita McGalliard (1907-1991) & Lois Virginia McGalliard (1911-1989). In 1945 the family lived at Lewisville, Denton County, Texas. Lucky Thomas survived the crash en became a German POW in camp Stalag Luft 1. In 1945 Thomas married with Doralie Mae Stanger (1926-2009). Francis passed away on the 26th of September 2008 at Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA. He is buried on the Brazoria Cemetery at Brazoria, Brazoria County, TX. At the moment I research this crash en I was hoping that there is someone could en will help me with some additional information about Thomas: . His family . His live before he enlisted . His live during his service at the US Air Force/8th Air Force . His live after the war . His Orbit I also hope that someone knows some ancestors or relatives of Thomas en will help me to get in contact with them. My goal with the information I try to collect is to make a as precise as possible reconstruction about the crew en their mission on that day. So the story of the brave man who gave their live for our freedom never will be forgotten. Thank you in advance en hope someone could en will help me. Kind regards René Bosma, Oosterwolde, The Netherlands My emailaddress: rene_bosma21@hotmail.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>