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USAAF WORLD WAR II
United States Military Academy Class of 1942
Captain Thomas T. Galloway KIA
375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group
Hometown: Chevy Chase Maryland
Service # O-024768
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Thomas T. Galloway the son of Joseph Baldwin and Marie Schussler Galloway, was born September 5, 1919. He was one of four boys in the family. He attended Towson Catholic High School. After graduating in 1935, Tom attended Boys' Latin School in Baltimore for one year and received his appointment to West Point from United States Senator Millard Tydings. On graduation, May 29, 1942, Tom ranked first in military tactics. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery and was detailed with the Air Force.
On Graduation Day he married Margaret Mallory Almond, the daughter of Major General and Mrs. E. M. Almond, whom he had met at the beginning of his first class year, and three days later they reported for duty at Ocala, Florida, where Tom completed two months of primary flight training. He completed basic training at Greenville, Mississippi, and finally won his wings with the class of 42K on December 13, 1942, at George Field, Illinois.
After qualifying in P-38 fighter planes at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona, he was assigned in February 1943 to the 331st Fighter Squadron, which was based at Van Nuys, California. In March of 1943 Tom narrowly missed death when his P-38 plane and another collided in midair 20 miles out over the Pacific Ocean on a target practice mission. Miraculously, both pilots bailed out safely and were picked up several hours later by a freighter.
The sudden departure of the 331st Fighter Squadron for Tumwater, Washington, the last of that summer, prevented Tom from being on hand when his son was born at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on August 28. He was promoted to Captain in November just after he was ordered to the 436th Fighter Squadron in Glendale, California. In the spring of 1944 left for overseas duty. In April 1944, the 436th Fighter Squadron, with Tom as Assistant Operations Officer and Flight Leader, sailed for England, and on arrival became an integral part of the Eighth United States Air Force. On June 1, 1944, Tom was recommended for promotion to Major for the following superior service:
"Captain Galloway has served as Flight Commander in a superior manner since activation of the 436th Fighter Squadron, from 28 October 1943 to 26 May 1944, since which later date he has held the position of Operations Officer, and his outstanding performance of duty merits his promotion".
Flying his P-38 pursuit plane from bases in England, Tom completed ten sorties over German-occupied French territory on June 12, 1944. For this hazardous service, he was awarded the Air Medal on July 6, 1944. Tom completed his twentieth and thirtieth sorties over France on June 29 and July 15, 1944, respectively, entitling him to two Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal. And on July 11, 1944, Tom was authorized to wear the Bronze Battle Star on the E.A.M.E. Theater Ribbon to signify his participation in "Air Offensive Europe"
Tom died In the air while on a fighter sweep through northwest France, July 24, 1944. His airplane Is reported to have gone out of control, spiralling earthward from 15,000 feet. His body was found by a Frenchman in the Forest Due Preche near the village of Tournouvre, buried initially in a French cemetery, and later removed to the United States Army Cemetery at Saint Andre-De-Eure, France, Plot C, Row 9, Grave 178. This cemetery is located approximately 15 miles southeast of Evereaux. Tom was posthumously in August 1944, awarded the Purple Heart.