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Meet William Thomas of the War Training Service


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The Rooster

Meet Mr William Thomas of Alquippa Pennsylvannia.

He was a Pilot in the Air Corps until he was injured in a crash.

He became a instructor in the CAA War Training Service

training pilots for the war. We would not know anything about Mr Thomas except that

the seller who sold me the wing below mentioned that it ws his great uncles.

I asked if he wouldnt mind telling me his great uncles name.

He told me and gave me a brief history and these photos along with the wing. He says he has some letters to

Mr Thomas from Pilots that he is going to send to me.

So, for the first time ever, I have a wing with solid provenance. The first and only for me.

I'l be its caretaker along with Mr Thomas memory.

Happy Fathers Day !

 

Rooster

William Thomas.jpg

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Top shelf!

 

This is the sort of thing that really makes this hobby worthwhile!

 

 

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BILL THE PATCH

And if you didn't ask it would be lost to history. I always ask when buying off eBay if they have any info on what im buying. Believe me it pays off soon or later. Thanks for showing

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

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Nice pick-up Rooster! If those two included photographs are any indication of William Thomas' affiliation with both the War Training Service and war-time era Civil Air Patrol, you've landed a grouping with very nice historical aviation significance!  Especially if that particular CAP unit was actively involved in aerial shore patrol and German sub-hunting along the North Carolina coast in early 1942. The airplane identifier on the tail of the CAP aircraft would be a good place to continue your information search. Both the C.A.P. and W.T.S. played very different but vital roles in the early days of our involvement in WWII. Thanks for sharing your find with us! I look forward to hearing about where your research takes you...     

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The Rooster

Thank you guys I appreciate all the kind comments. This is a special wing, a first for me. Im honored to have it.

The following is what the seller wrote me about this wing.

I hope to find out much more about William Thomas.

And will share what I can find out.

Thank you for the clues about the tail numbers.

 

"So, here is the story as I understand it with the wings. The gentleman who earned the wings was William Thomas, from Aliquippa, PA. (great uncle) He was a pilot before WWII and was in the Army Air core I believe leading up to the war. I’m unclear as to the type of aircraft he flew but he was injured in a crash, his back was injured to where combat piloting was no longer an option for him. After his injury he stayed in the states and trained other pilots to fly during war time. He passed away in 1962 I believe, after retiring to Seminole FL.

We have some letters written back to Bill from pilots that he trained. They were very interesting and when we find them again I will send them to you so you can keep with the wings."

 

Dave

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The Rooster

Greetings all. Today I recieved the most wonderful Email kindly sent by the seller of this beautiful wing.

I can today add more detail to Mr Thomas story and the role he played during WW2.

We have a head shot of Mr Thomas and a full length shot of Mr Thomas in his flying uniform.

Also remarkably, a letter from a combat P-38 pilot in the pacific to Mr William Thomas.

He may have been a student but appears to be a close friend of Bills ?

The letter is fascinating!!! Read it for your self. Its a unique glimpse into a fighter pilots life in the pacific during WW2.

Sadly he was killed.

Enjoy and I hope to post more in the near future. Many thanks to the seller of this remarkable piece of history which has opened into a world

we seldom get an intimate glimpse of.

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William Thomas 2.jpg

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The Rooster

Apparently this aircraft was sold off to someone in Alaska. The tail number came up with the folowing info...

Thank you Matt !

r1.jpg.a3aec7f435d2e19438fd9219e794fa6d.jpg

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The Rooster

Ernest Nelson is on the body not recovered list for WW2 air force personel

 

NELSON, ERNEST F2D LTO-758840  6/23/1945  12:00:00 AM   67 FIGHTER SQUADRON 347 FIGHTER GROUP  PENNSYLVANIA  PHILIPPINES

 

https://www.dpaa.mil/Portals/85/Documents/WWIIAccounting/united_states_army_air_forces.html

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The Rooster

A brief article on the history of the CAA

 

https://www.faa.gov/about/history/milestones/media/The_CAA_Helps_America_Prepare_for_World_WarII.pdf

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The Rooster

The importance of training....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQienerwC2Q

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