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Michael D. Withers (Mike), OSCS
to remember
Brooks, Thomas Perkins, Jr., ENS.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Concord, MA
Last Address 10 Belknap St Concord, MA (Mother~Susan B. Brooks)
Casualty Date Oct 25, 1944
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates Wall of the Missing (Cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
At the Battle of Leyte Gulf about 7:30 AM, the Japanese Fleet was sighted 30 miles east of USS Franklin's circling bombers. There were four carriers: the Zuikaku, Chitose, Zuiho, and the Chiyoda. Two battleships with flight decks, the Hyuga and Ise, steamed with them, surrounded by a dozen cruisers and destroyers. Hellcats from another air group hurried to the scene to cover Big Ben's airmen as they hurtled in. Seventeen enemy fighters were in the air over their carriers and they fought desperately to save them. An Avenger piloted by Ens. Thomas P. Brooks, Jr. with Aircrewmen Harold J. Shane and Francis J. Ploger spun down to the sea in a fatal water landing. But the bombers bored in and sank one of the carriers, the Zuiho.
Comments/Citation:
Name of Award
Distinguished Flying Cross
Year Awarded
1944
Details behind Award: Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Thomas Perkins Brooks, Jr. (NSN: 0-321264), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights as pilot of a carrier-based Torpedo Bomber plane on 4 August 1944, in the vicinity of the Bonin Islands in the Central Pacific. On this date, he took part in an aerial torpedo attack against enemy fleet units and merchant shipping. In the face of extremely intense and accurate naval anti-aircraft fire, he skillfully maneuvered his plane to a dangerously close range and obtained a direct hit with his torpedo upon a large Japanese cargo vessel, which was observed to sink shortly thereafter. His determination in pressing home this attack contributed materially to the destruction of many important enemy ships. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0528 (September 7, 1944) Action Date: August 4, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Ensign Air Sqaudron: Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) Ship: USS Franklin (CV-13)2nd Award Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Thomas Perkins Brooks, Jr. (NSN: 0-321264), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a carrier-based torpedo bomber plane on 19 October 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands in the Central Pacific. On this date, he took part in a three plane mast head bombing attack against a large Japanese fleet oiler. In spite of enemy fighter opposition, and in the face of extremely intense and accurate shore and ship anti-aircraft fire, he obtained a damaging near miss, materially aiding his division in the sinking of this ship. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: October 19, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Ensign Air Sqaudron: Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) Ship: USS Franklin (CV-13)
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. The United States offensive, under the overall command of Chester Nimitz, followed the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and was intended to neutralize Japanese bases in the central Pacific, support the Allied drive to retake the Philippines, and provide bases for a strategic bombing campaign against Japan.
Beginning the offensive, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces, with support from the United States Navy, executed landings on Saipan in June, 1944. In response, the Imperial Japanese Navy's combined fleet sortied to attack the U.S. Navy fleet supporting the landings. In the resulting aircraft carrier Battle of the Philippine Sea (the so-called “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) on 19–20 June, the Japanese naval forces were decisively defeated with heavy and irreplaceable losses to their carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.
Thereafter, U.S. forces executed landings on Guam and Tinian in July, 1944. After heavy fighting, Saipan was secured in July and Guam and Tinian in August, 1944. The U.S. then constructed airfields on Saipan and Tinian where B-29s were based to conduct strategic bombing missions against the Japanese mainland until the end of World War II, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the meantime, in order to secure the flank for U.S. forces preparing to attack Japanese forces in the Philippines, in September, 1944, U.S. Marine and Army forces landed on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. After heavy and intense combat on Peleliu, the island was finally secured by U.S. forces in November, 1944.
Following their landings in the Mariana and Palau Islands, Allied forces continued their ultimately successful campaign against Japan by landing in the Philippines in October, 1944 and the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands beginning in January, 1945.
