Lieut. Wayne Thomas

THOMAS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/9/2021 at 08:19:26

5 July 1945 - The Anamosa Journal

WYOMING - Lieut. Wayne Thomas, U. S. Army, was killed May 24 in the Philippines, while flying an artillery liason plane on a mission over leading elements of the Army forces on Mindanao when his plane crashed.

This word was received by his mother, Mrs. Florence Richardson Thomas, now living in Alta Dena, Calif., but formerly of Wyoming. Following letter was sent by Brig. Gen. Robert O. Shoe, his commanding officer. Lieut. Thomas had been in action in the Philippines for only a few weeks prior to this death.

Gen. Shoe wrote in part: "I knew Wayne only for a time. On the three days prior to the 24th, he flew me a number of times over and beyond the enemy lines, and I grew in that short period to have a high regard for him. He had a spirit of high adventure, and as of course you know, a most engaging manner.

"On the 22nd we had flown down over the advance elements of our force and later in the afternoon, because all radios were out, it became necessary to get a message to the commander. Weather had become so bad that I did not feel justified in ordering Wayne up, but he volunteered to go if he were not required to take a passenger. I watched him take off, and he flew into blinding rainstorm. An hour later he was back, having landed n a road under even worse conditions, delivered the message, returning safely. When he landed I told him that I was recommending him for a decorating. His reaction to that was typical of him. He said 'O.K., Sir, that was nothing; anyone would have done that.' Mrs. Thomas, the decoration will be delivered to you by the War Department.

"Next day the weather was fine and Wayne was flying a liaison mission over the leading elements. He was accompanied by an observer, Lieut. Rosen, Ft. Worth, Tex., when they were forced down by air currents. Lieut. Rosen was able to extricate Wayne from the wrecked plane, and brought aid within a short time. Regimental surgeon stayed with Wayne until his death about 2:30 a.m. on the 24th. He was given an opiate immediately, so that his last hours were painless. Regimental aid station was equipped with the means to give him every possible care. Lieut. Col. Stratts, the regimental commander, stayed with him and told me that before going to sleep, Wayne joked with him about having a colonel for an attendant. Wayne was buried in the U.S.A.F. cemetery, May 25, the chaplain of the 164th F.A., his unit, reading the service.

"Mrs. Thomas I am writing this letter to you as a father to a mother, and I am telling you of details of his last days I should have wished to know about had the situation been reversed. Wayne was a fine gentleman and gallant soldier. I salute you both."

Before joining the army, Wayne was assistant chief teller at the Security First National bank. Wayne Thomas visited all his former acquaintances and relatives in Wyoming just one year ago the last week in June. He attended the Wyoming schools.