Lloyd Thomas
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Thomas was an aviator in United States Navy
who was killed in action in World War II
during the Battle of Midway
while attacking a Imperial Japanese Navy
aircraft carrier
.
, Ohio
. He attended the local schools and then graduated from Ohio University
in June 1935.
Thomas was appointed as an aviation cadet on 4 October 1938, and commissioned as an ensign
on 26 October 1939. He joined Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6)
on 13 December 1939 and a year later was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade
.
Piloting a Douglas
TBD-1 Devastator
torpedo bomber
on 4 June 1942, Thomas gave his life in his squadron’s attack during the Battle of Midway.
for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat at Midway.
USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-312)
and then to the destroyer escort USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-374)
, but both were canceled in 1944 before their construction was complete. In 1945, the destroyer
USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764)
, in commission
from 1947 to 1973, was named in his honor.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
who was killed in action in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
while attacking a Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
.
Biography
Thomas was born in NelsonvilleNelsonville, Ohio
Nelsonville is a city in northwestern Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. Hocking College is located in Nelsonville.-Geography:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He attended the local schools and then graduated from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in June 1935.
Thomas was appointed as an aviation cadet on 4 October 1938, and commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
on 26 October 1939. He joined Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...
on 13 December 1939 and a year later was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
.
Piloting a Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
TBD-1 Devastator
TBD Devastator
The Douglas TBD Devastator was a torpedo bomber of the United States Navy, ordered in 1934, first flying in 1935 and entering service in 1937. At that point, it was the most advanced aircraft flying for the USN and possibly for any navy in the world...
torpedo bomber
Torpedo bomber
A torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
on 4 June 1942, Thomas gave his life in his squadron’s attack during the Battle of Midway.
Awards
Thomas was posthumously awarded the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat at Midway.
Namesake
The name Lloyd Thomas was assigned first to the destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-312)
USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-312)
The first USS Lloyd Thomas was a United States Navy proposed during World War II but never completed.Lloyd Thomas was laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California, on 23 August 1943. Her construction was cancelled on 13 March 1944.The name Lloyd Thomas was reassigned to destroyer...
and then to the destroyer escort USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-374)
USS Lloyd Thomas (DE-374)
The second USS Lloyd Thomas was a proposed United States Navy that was never built.Lloyd Thomas was scheduled to be built at Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas, during World War II. However, her construction was cancelled on 6 June 1944.The name Lloyd Thomas was reassigned to...
, but both were canceled in 1944 before their construction was complete. In 1945, the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764)
USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764)
The third USS Lloyd Thomas was a in the United States Navy during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She was named for Lieutenant Lloyd Thomas , who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Midway.Lloyd Thomas was laid down by Bethlehem Steel...
, in commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
from 1947 to 1973, was named in his honor.