Thomas Henry Markward Jr. was born on September 2, 1922 to Thomas Howard and Kathryn Lyons Markward who lived in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Thomas was the eldest of three children. His father served in the Army in France during WWI. His father died of pneumonia when Thomas was just 16 years old.

After graduating from Scott High School, Thomas attended St. Joseph’s College for a few years and then worked for Luken Steel Company for a short time before being inducted into the service.

Thomas entered service in the Army Air Corps in September, 1942. He received training at Santa Ana, California and Tuscan, Arizona. He was then stationed at Marafa, Texas before being sent sent overseas to serve in the European Theater of Operations on August 1, 1944. Thomas flew from Framlingham Airdrome in Surrey, England with the Eighth Air Force.  

Second Lieutenant Thomas Henry Markward was killed in action on September 10, 1944 over Nuremberg, Germany during his fifth combat mission in less than a week. On September 22nd, the family received a telegram from the War Department stating that their son was missing in action. This telegram was followed by another a few days later: 

"It has now been officially established for reports received in the War  Department that your son, second Lieutenant Thomas H. Markward Jr., was Killed In Action September 10 over Germany. The Secretary of War extends his deepest sympathy." 

Thomas was the copilot of a B-17 name the "Miss Fall River" - the same plane flown by another hometown pilot, Captain Lacey G. Lackey.    

Thomas is buried at Saint Cecelia Cemetery in Coatesville.

Credits

Research by Lisa Arnold