True American hero celebrates 97th birthday
World War II veteran Tom Creekmore, who flew 19 bombing missions as a B-17 radio operator, celebrated his 97th birthday Dec. 7 in a special way. He said he didn’t expect a celebration this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Thanks to Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary members and fellow veterans, a parade was organized in his honor with a drive-by of more than 75 vehicles. Creekmore stood outside his Long Neck home in his uniform with his lady friend, Rita D'Ascenzo, offering salutes and thanks to everyone who drove by.
He was presented with a proclamation by American Legion Post 28 honoring his military service, and he was wrapped in a handmade Quilt of Valor presented by the state coordinators of the project.
“This has been wonderful,” he said. “I wish everyone could have stayed for a party.”
To say Creekmore has had an interesting life is an understatement. Besides risking his life flying bombing missions, he shook the hands of Civil War veterans at Gettysburg, worked for 40 years in the aviation industry, saw President Franklin Roosevelt, fostered a friendship with the captain of the famous Memphis Belle, and helped in a little-known rescue mission to fly out more than 6,000 American and British POWs following the war.
He's the last surviving member of his 10-member crew of the B-17 named The Joker.
By the end of 1943, he passed the required Army Air Corps tests and was assigned as a radio operator to a B-17 Flying Fortress crew for additional training as a member of 305th Bomb Group in the 365th Bomb Squadron as part of the 8th Army Air Force. After more training, he was shipped out with his crew in early 1945 to Chelveston, Northamptonshire, England.
Over a 40-day period, his crew flew 19 bombing missions, taking part with more than 1,300 bombers and more than 700 fighters in one of the largest daylight raids of the war. It was during that March 18 raid over Germany that German Me262s – the first wartime jets – were sent out to attack American planes.
Tom said 17 of his crew's 19 missions were over Germany, with one mission to bomb German facilities in France and one mission in Holland.
He retired in 1981 and moved to the Cape Region in 2003.
