DOB/DOD: February 1, 1921 (Providence, RI) – March 29, 1943; 22 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: New Haven
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-286859
FAMILY: Born to Milton H. (1897-1958) and Marion K. Edmondson Thomas (1901-1940). Five sisters, Constance M. Thomas Copeland (1918-1985), Marion N. (1926-1992), Jean (1929-1992), Carolyn A. Thomas-Greene (1932-2017), and Martha B. Thomas-Dublin (1933-1994). Three brothers, Milton H. III (1923-1990), Phillip E. (1934-2002), and John P. (1934-2006).
CIRCUMSTANCES: At 2336 hours on March 29, 1943, the unescorted William Pierce Frye (Master Meinhard Scherf), a straggler from convoy HX-230 due to engine trouble since 28 March, was hit on the starboard side in #1 hold by one of three torpedoes from U-610, while steaming on a zigzag course at 12.5 knots. At 2340 hours, a coup de grâce was fired that hit forward of amidships and caused the ship to sink by the bow within five minutes. Three of the lifeboats had previously been damaged by heavy weather and two more by the torpedo explosions, so only one boat was launched but it swamped in the rough seas and the four rafts and two floats were carried away before any of the eight officers, 32 crewmen and 24 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 3in and nine 20mm guns) could board them. The men had to jump overboard when the ship sank, and only seven of them managed to swim to one of the landing craft that floated free. The two officers, three crewmen, and two armed guards were picked up after five days by HMS Shikari (D 85) (LtCdr D.A. Rayner, DSC, RNVR) and landed in Londonderry. [uboat.net]
The fate of U-610
Sunk on 8 October 1943 in the North Atlantic north-west of Ireland, in position 55.45N, 24.33W, by depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (423 Sqn RCAF/J). 51 dead (all hands lost). [uboat.net]