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Thomas
Lynn
Harris
POW (WWII)
1921

–

Born:

Santa Paula

, 

California

Home:

Santa Paula

, 

California

During World War II, Thomas Harris became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. On May 27, 1944, the date on which he scored his fifth victory, he was himself shot down, captured, and spent the remainder of the war in a Prisoner of War camp.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    364th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    357th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Thomas Lynn Harris (ASN: 0-748495), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-51 Fighter Pilot of the 364th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War

    Action Date:

    May 27, 1944 – May 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 15213

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Thomas Lynn Harris (ASN: 0-748495), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by German forces after he was shot down on 27 May 1945, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of hostilities in May 1945.