Lt. Jack Thornell WWII ace with 17 victories

Lt. Jack Thornell Jr.

"Over the top" © Troy White, pencil on paper, 10.5" x 13.5" SOLD

John F. Thornell Jr. was born in Massachusetts in April 1921. Jack joined the Army in July 1940 and was a Sergeant when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He commenced his flight training in January 1942. He won his wings and was commissioned as a pilot in February 1943. In April he was assigned to the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group. The 352nd deployed to England and was attached to the 8th Air Force based in Bodney. The group was equipped with the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and started flying combat missions in September 1944. Jack scored his first of 5 victories in the P-47D on January 30, 1944. His unit converted to the P-51B in April and Lt. Thornell racked up 13 more victories before he completed his tour. Thornell's highest scoring day was on the May 8, 1944 escort mission to Brunswick Germany when he bagged three Me109s. He was awarded America's second highest award for that misssion; the Distinguished Service Cross. On that day his Group set an ETO record by scoring 27 confirmed victories was earned a Distinguished Unit Citation . With the July 11th show to Berlin Jack logged his 300th combat hour and rotated home to the USA. His final score was 17.25 air and 2 ground victories. Lt. Thornell was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Service Cross. Thornell remained in the Air Force after the war and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1971.

Originally drawn in 1998 the "Over the top" drawing eventually evolved into my painting "The Kidd"

Lt. Jack Thornell & squadron mates check out a 50 calibre machine gun in front of Don Bryan's P-47, From left: Fred "Pappy" Yochim, Fremont Miller, Don Bryan and Jack Thornell. Jack's P-51B undergoes some maintenance prior to D-Day. Note the fake gun port painted above the external fuel tank.

"Smiling" Jack Thornell flew 91 missions with the 352nd FG and scored 19. 25 victories against the Luftwaffe.

"Punchy & Jack" © 1999 Troy White, Oil on Canvas, 28" x 46"

Lt. Bob "Punchy" Powell forms up on the wing of Lt. Jack Thornell for the flight back to their base at Bodney, England on 21 June 1944 after a battle near Magdeburg. On this date the 486th Squadron was dispatched to fly the first Russia Shuttle Mission with the 4th FG. Meanwhile the remaining two squadrons of Bluenosers flew a bomber escort mission of their own. They ran into a bunch of Me 410s and Me109s. In the engagement that followed the 328th FS destroyed two Me 410s and damaged three while the 487th destroyed two of the 109s and damaged another. Thornell shared in the destruction of one of the 410s while Powell damaged one of them.

Lt. Robert H. "Punchy" Powell poses with his P-51B "The West 'by Gawd' Virginian" during the Summer of 1944.

Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox. Used with permission.

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