The Blue Star Banner represents the number of family members serving in the US Armed Forces during a time of war or hostilities. If the service member is killed in action, the blue star is replaced by a gold.
As we have seen, Framingham families have answered the call during our times of need. Thomas, James, and John Gagen are excellent examples of this dedication to duty. Here we will discuss Thomas’ service. In later posts, we’ll examine James’ and John’s participation in WWII.
Thomas F. Gagen
Image: Framingham High School (FHS) Yearbook
Class of 1939
Thomas Francis Gagen was born in Boston on 02 May 1921. The family home was located on Pearl Street in Framingham. There were six Gagen children: Hellen, James, Mary, John, Thomas, and Margaret. Tom was a member of the FHS Class of 1939. Prior to his enlistment (11 August 1942), he worked for the Hodgeman Rubber Company on Tripp Street. Following his initial training as an aerial gunner, Tom was assigned to the 732nd Bombardment Squadron as a Technical Sergeant (TSGT). The 732nd was part of the 453rd Bombardment Group of the 2nd Bombardment Division. The 2nd Division had 14 bombardment groups. The 2nd's "parent" command was the Eighth Air Force.
WWII Aerial Gunner Wings
Image: National Museum of the US Air Force
The 732nd was activated on 01 June 1943. The squadron flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The normal complement for a B-24 squadron was 12 to 16 aircraft. The B-24 was a heavy, four engined, long-range bomber with a crew of 10. It was armed with 10, 50 caliber (.50 cal.) machine guns for self-protection. It had a bomb capacity of just over 8,000 pounds. Missions were normally 4-8 hours but could stretch to 10. Given the altitudes at which these missions were flown, the use of oxygen masks and heavy clothing were required.
Over 18,000 Liberators were built during the war, including many at the Ford Company Willow Run production facility in Michigan. Watch (https://youtu.be/zWAWuTlUpO4)
B-24s on a Combat Mission Over Europe
Image: Collection of Mr. Don Harder
732nd B-24 named “Consolidated Mess” Over Europe
Image: worldwarphotos.info
US Eighth Air Force Patch
Image: Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
Tom and his squadron and group arrived in England (from California) in December 1943. This capable force operated from Old Buckenham Airfield (aka “Station 144”), Norfolk, England from December 1943 to April 1945. Tom’s first combat mission was on 05 February 1944. The target was the German airfield in Tours, France.
The 453rd would fly attack missions against fuel depots, railroad centers/marshalling yards/viaducts, aircraft assembly plants, ordnance depots, oil refineries, chemical works, and airfields. These operations included bombing V-1/V-2 rocket weapon sites, German Air Force (the Luftwaffe) airfields, and gun batteries in France prior to D-Day (Normandy, 06 June 1944). They also supported Allied ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945).
Old Buckenham Air Base -- “Station 144”
Image: Imperial War Museum/American Air Museum in Britain
In May 1944 Tom was hospitalized for a battle injury to his ankle (awarded Purple Heart). On 16 July 1944, he was the recipient of an Air Medal (first of two). On 28 August 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for “Extraordinary achievement while serving as a B-24 Gunner.”
DFC PH AM
The 453rd flew its last combat mission in April 1945. The group and its men (including Tom) returned to the US in May 1945. The command was deactivated on 12 September 1945. Tom was discharged from the service on 30 September 1945. He eventually settled in as a machine operator at Dennison Manufacturing. Tom would later take a position with the Framingham School Department. He passed away on 09 June 1987. His final resting place is at Saint Stephens Cemetery in Framingham.
Here, it is good to remember that from December of 1941 to August of 1945 the Eighth Air Force suffered 63,410 casualties. Of these, 19,876 were killed in action, 8,413 wounded and 35,121 were missing. (Source: US Army Air Forces Statistical Digest - WWII) Truly, an amazing level of sacrifice.
453rd Bomb Group Memorial
Image: Imperial War Museum/American Air Museum in Britain
Of interest,Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Stewart was the Operations Officer for the 453rd Bomb Group during WWII.
The caption with this photo reads:
“Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Stewart, Group Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group, nervously awaiting the return of planes under his command at Old Buckenham Air Base”
Image: Imperial War Museum/American Air Museum in Britain
Watch
Sources
American Library; Memorial to the 2nd Air Division
8th Air Force United States Army Air Forces (https://digitalarchive.2ndair.org.uk/)
Army Air Corps Library and Museum
Army Air Force Statistical Digest (WWII), December 1941-August 1945, Army Air Forces Washington DC, Office of Statistical Control, 1945
Framingham High School
Framingham History Center
Holland, James. Big Week: The Biggest Air Battle of World War II, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2018
Imperial War Museum/American Air Museum in Britain
Library of Congress
Miller, Donald L. Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany, Simon & Schuster, 2007
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
National WWII Museum
The United States Strategic Bombing Surveys: Summary Reports (Europe and Pacific). US Army Air Force, 30 September 1945
US Army Center of Military History
US National Archives
worldwarphotos.info
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