Original U.S. WWII AAF KIA Uniform, Visor Cap, & Trousers of Lieutenant Alex Thomaides, 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group with Binder of Research

Original Items. Only One Group Available. This is an interesting group purportedly having belonged to Lieutenant Alex Thomaides, who served as a B-17 Bomber pilot in the 365th Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force during World War II. On May 11th, 1944, on his 29th mission, Thomaide’s B-17 Bomber was shot down by flak over Saarbrucken, Germany.

It should be noted that while the uniform is named to Thomaides, there is no solid documentation with the group that verifies it as having belonged to him. There is a Calling card for Thomaide with the group, and the graduation pamphlet for the AAF Advanced Flying School in Douglas, Arizona.

The group consists of:

- Thomaide’s officer’s uniform jacket with 1st Lieutenant bars on the shoulders, an 8th Air Force patch on the left shoulder, and US & AAF collar insignia. On the left breast is a stitched blue “combat crew” field with Sterling pilot’s wings on top. On the interior, under the breast pocket, is the name ALEX THOMAIDES written in ink.

- Pink style Army trousers, unmarked.

- Army Officer’s Winter Crush Visor Cap, Size 7 ¼. The name ALEX is written under the visor. The cap has a rather slanted shape from poor storage. The sweatband is missing much of its stitching. 

- Binder of research documents including printed web pages, printed photo of the crash site of Thomaide’s crash, printed copies of photos of Thomaides, a cut newspaper clipping announcing his Air Medals, a small biography on Thomaides, the Calling card for Thomaides, and a graduation pamphlet for the AAF Advanced Flying School in Douglas, Arizona, Class 43-E. May 20th, 1943. 

1st Lt. Alex Thomaides was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1921 to Greek immigrant parents Christos and Eleni Thomaides. He was the oldest of four children. His family later moved to a small town in upstate NY named Youngsville where they became dairy farmers. In August 1942 Alex volunteered for the army and was stationed in California as a member of the corps. In May of 1943 Alex graduated as second lieutenant from Douglas advanced flying school at Douglas, Arizona. He received his wings after nine months training as a pilot in the army air corps. He later moved to a flying base at Hobbs, New Mexico. In September 1943 he was then stationed in Kearney, Nebraska.
In January 1944 2nd Lt. Thomaides arrived in England to join the 8th Air Force and was on 11 missions over enemy territory.

He has earned the air medal for his first five missions and an oak leaf cluster for the other five. His tenth raid was over Berlin. On May 1, 1944 2nd Lt. Alex Thomaides was promoted to first lieutenant. During the failed attack on May 11, 1944 by US 8th AF on Saarbrucken the flying fortress of pilot 15 Lt. Alex Thomaides (305BG,365BS) was shot down by flak. The debris fell down near the Drahtzugweiher Pond in the Deutschmuhlental Valley in Saarbrucken. Seven of the 10 crew members perished and crashed near the town of Charville, France. Along with his air medal with oak leaf clusters 15 Lt. Alex Thomaides also earned the distinguished flying cross and the purple heart.

This is a great uniform grouping, ready for further research and display.