Lloyd Thomas

Infobox Military Person
name = Lloyd Thomas
lived = birth date|1912|3|10 – death date and age|1942|6|4|1912|3|10
placeofbirth = Nelsonville, Ohio
placeofdeath = near Midway Atoll


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = United States of America
serviceyears = 1938–1942
rank = lieutenant (jg.)
branch = United States Navy
commands =
unit = Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6)
battles = World War II *Battle of Midway
awards = Navy Cross (posthumous)

Lloyd Thomas (March 10, 1912 – June 4, 1942) 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 naval aircraft carrier.

Thomas was born in Nelsonville, Ohio. He attended the local schools and then graduated from Ohio University in June 1935. He was appointed as an aviation cadet on 4 October, 1938, and commissioned as an ensign 26 October 1939. He joined Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) in "Enterprise" (CV-6) on 13 December; 1939; and a year later was promoted to lieutenant (jg.). On 4 June 1942, he gave his life in his squadron’s attack in the Battle of Midway, and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat.

Namesake

In 1945, the destroyer USS "Lloyd Thomas" (DD-764) was named in his honor. The name "Lloyd Thomas" had been assigned to the destroyer escorts DE-312 and DE-374, but both were canceled in 1944 before their construction was complete.

References

:DANFS