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Any WW2 Buffs?

By Bea McManis

I am searching for information regarding Capt. Thomas C Campbell Jr. This is what I know: b. 16 May 1920 d. 20 Oct 1944, when his aircraft crashed near lake Anten in Sweden. They were on route from Leuchars, Scotland to Bromma, Sweden as part of "Project Sonnie", in a C-87 (NC18618). According to one webpage, he came from Genesee Co, NY (source of this information unknown). According to a local newspaper report (Swedish newspaper Sydsvenska dagbladet) dated 12 May 1948, his mother then lived in Alexandria, VA. A Large Stone Tablet with the Crew Names and a Propeller from their B - 24 43-30619 crashed near Goteburg in Sweden Oct 20, 1944 bearing civil registration NC18618. This was some sort of secret operation. It seems that the plane was a part of Operation Carpetbagger, which was a special program to deliver supplies to resistance groups in enemy-occupied countries, to deliver personnel to the field, and occasionally to bring back personnel from the field. It is believed that this plane was being used to fly back to the UK Norwegian aircrew trainees and American internees from Sweden. I can find nothing in the Batavia Daily News regarding this Genesee Co. resident. I don't have a clue as to what amount of time would lapse between the crash and when it was reported. There is no record of Capt. Campbell enlisting in Genesee Co., nor is his mother listed as a Genesee Co. Gold Star mother. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Bea McManis

More information about Capt. Campbell's family. Still searching for anyone with any knowledge of the family living in Genesee Co.
from my contact in Sweden....
"I think his father was Thomas C Campbell, b.25 Nov 1890, died May 1966, last residence 12522 Dover Plains, Duchess, New York.
And his mother I think is Anna Campbell, b.2 Feb 1892, died Dec 1976, last residence 06405 Branford, New Haven, CT.
Thomas had a sister, I think, Jean D Campbell, b ca 1926, married to Albert Carman. They have 4 children: Kathy, Colin, William and Margaret. All this is so far unconfirmed but the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong."

Oct 21, 2008, 9:44pm Permalink

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