Person:Leonard Hager (1)

Tom's enlistment record is under Leonard P. Hager. He enlisted in Virginia on July 13, 1942. Height: 70, weight: 136. He was a Staff Sergeant (position was belly gunner) in the 512th Squadron of the 376th Bomber Group, known as the Liberando's. He died when his plane was shot down during a bombing raid over Italy. Some of the crew were able to evacuate, but Tom and two others of the crew were wounded too badly. The pilot, Lt. Haigh, also died, trying to give the remaining crew time to escape by staying at the controls, but the plane exploded while he was still on board. It was the 206th mission of the year for the 512th and their target was Vicenza, in northern Italy near Venice. They had bombed Vicenza on Christmas, three days before, and had met no resistance so on this mission they flew without fighter escort. Survivors of the mission report they were met by over 100 German fighters. Most of the squadron were flying in B-24D's, which had no front turret, making it harder to defend themselves against the enemy. The 376th had a long list of "firsts" before Tom was killed: first Bomb Group to bomb European Continent, first high altitude raid on Ploesti, Romania, first over Naples, first Rome raid, first low altitude of Ploesti, and more. Tom is on the Gallia County List of War Dead and on the Tablets of the Missing in the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy. He received the Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and "Additional Army Awards." Tom met his wife Eileen while in the Pacific Northwest during Air Force training.