Sources: Rose Navorska; Gerry Hoyt
2nd Lt. Hawley Adelbert Thomas, Jr.
Sources: Author: Navorska, Rose; Title: Talk to David A. Navorska, (Publication site: Olmsted Twp., Cuyahoga Co., OH, Publisher: LRBEN, Publication date: ca. MCMLXXXI)
HAT Jr. is not the natural son of HAT Sr.
Hawley Jr. was a 2nd Lieut. in U.S.Army Air Corps at time of death. He was on a military flight during WWII flying within the U.S.A.
Family tradition has it that the airplane was sabotaged causing the propeller to break away and crash through the cabin. Hawley, who was in the co-pilot seat, died. The pilot lived. Normally, Hawley would be the pilot, but a higherranking officer took the pilot spot. The story is there was sugar in the gas tank.
Buried in Wakeman Cem. on OH 303.
Author: Neel, Thomas S.; et al., Title: «u»Huron Co., OH Cemetery Inscriptions«/u», (Publication site: Norwalk OH, Publisher: HCCOGS, Publication date: MCMXCVII) pg 895, Repository: Dallas TX pub. lib.
"Wakeman Village Cemetery, Wakeman Twp ... West Section - Row 5
...
5 THOMAS, Hawley A., Ohio 2 Lieut. Air Corps, 12 May 1943 (WWII marker)"
Author: Hoyt, Gerry; Title: Letter to Rose Navorska, (Publication site: Idaho, Publisher: GH, Publication date: xxvii Aug MCMLXXIX)
CDP-census defined place.
Author: (NN-family name not given), Linda B.; Title: "Hawley A. Thomas," (Publication site: Wakeman OH, Publisher: Find-a-Grave, Publication date: xxxi May MMXII)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91088253/hawley-a-thomas
"Photo [Hawley's military-style stone] added by Tischa (Valentine)Brian Lenhart
[photo-Hawley's obit.] Added by Nelda
[photo-request for military-style stone] Added by Patti Johnson
Hawley A. Thomas Birth unknown Death 12 May 1943 Burial Wakeman Township Cemetery Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio, USA Plot West Section - Row 5 #5 Memorial ID 91088253
Ohio 2 Lieut. Air Corps., 12 May 1943, WWII marker
Created by: [NN-family name not given], LindaB Added: May 31, 2012 Find a Grave Memorial ID: 91088253"
Text of article about the in-flight event, provenance unknown:
"BARKSDALE FIELD FLIERS KILLED IN ALABAMA CRASH
BARKSDALE FIELD. Shrevesport, La., May 13-(UP)-Names of five Army airmen killed last night in an airplane accident near Vinegar Bend, Ala., were announced today by officials at Barksdale Field, their home base.
One man, Lt. Col. Adam J. Heintz of 11503 12th Street Greeley Colo., pilot of the plane, survived the accident, believed to have been an explosion. Barksdale officials said that Colonel Heintz called his home base last night but did not state the nature of the accident. An Army board was investigating. Colonel Heintz reportedly parachuted to saftey.
The dead included Major Cheney Cowles, son of W. H. Cowles, Sr., Spokane, Wash., publisher Major Cowles was intelligence officer at Barksdale and formerly had been stationed at Colorado Springs, Colo., and at Fort George Wright, Wash.
Others were 2nd Lt. Hawley A. Thomas, co-pilot, of Amherst, O. Major Jeth W. Dodson, Barksdale signal officer, of Durant, Okla., Staff Sgt. Herbert E. Brackin of Dalthem, Ala., and Staff Sgt. Milford Hershwowitz of Kingston, Pa.
Bodies of the men were at a Mobile, Ala. funeral home, Barksdale officials said."
Text of Application for headstone or marker:
"... Granite Marker ... Serial Number 0-519997 ... Thomas, Hawley A. Rank 2nd Lt. Air Corps II Air Support Command Barksdale Field, La. ... Date of Death May 12, 1943 ... Cemetery Wakeman Cemetery Wakeman Ohio ... To be shipped to Mrs. Dora Thomas, at N.Y.C.-Wakeman, O. Whose post office address is R. D. #2 Amherst, O. ... Signature Mrs. Dora Thomas Applicant Address R. D. #2 Amherst, O. Date 7/24/43 ..."
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