Greetings from Warwickshire

[Temujin]

I’ll step in and give me 2 cents. He was clearly (on all his RCAF records) was born in England, and his records states that his citizenship was Australian (I’m not sure if their is any naturalization records in Australia, I can check).......he was a student in the USA, where his mother was also residing.

Also, as per RCAF regulations, he was reported to the American Authorities on his death as a “citizen of the USA” (record below).......

So a confusing one and probably all is true. I note in one of his BCATP reports, it talks of him being an Australian (so probably had the accent).....and he has a letter on file from the Australia Trade Minister (or representative) giving him a character reference.

So, the only was to confirm his citizenship is to either find his naturalization paper’s in Australia or his naturalization paper’s in the USA.......AND he could have held “dual” citizenship in both the USA and Australia....but would have to confirm that one

I’ll check further to see if I can find out any more

Cheers guys

[georgetanksherman]

Thank you both for trying to clear this up, Temujin, you know that I try to keep my records square, so I will see what I can do as well to piece this Warriors history together, but no matter how you look at it, he is a Fallen Allied Warrior, and needs to be Honoured and Remembered !

Cheers to you both !

George

[Temujin]

George and Daz

From his records, when he joined the RCAF he presented his US Immigration Documents (his Green Card I would suspect) and their fore it says he was born in England, and he joined using US documentation, and that’s probably why US authorities were informed when he was KIA

Also, his records tell us his father was consulting for the US Navy at that time.

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So, information confirms that Thomas Anthony Sherman was Born in England.
Father was Born in Australia (hence his Australian citizenship).
Mother was Born in Scotland but she now held Australian citizenship.
Father and mother in USA where father was working for US Navy.
Thomas Anthony Sherman had a US Immigration Card (Green Card) Which he received in 1930, which made him a US resident (not a citizen yet, but a “legal resident”, allow to go to school, work etc and live in the USA).......and he used his US Immigration Card when joining the RCAF to confirm his birth and citizenship......their fore the Canadian Authorities would consider him as BOTH a US legal resident and Australian Citizen

[georgetanksherman]

Thank You very much for the update Temujin, so now the question being where does Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S.A. fit in ??? , maybe after, the family moved there, and that was the last known address of his parents !

Anyway, thanks for the update !

Cheers !
George

[78SqnHistory]

Thank you both for your comments. Its certainly been an interesting one and it has given me reason to look at others who may have come from America into the RCAF and then onto 78 Squadron. The Squadron had a wide range of nationalities, so far I have identified, a Brazilian, two Belgiums, several Irishmen, one from the Bahamas, and numerous Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Americans.

I have identified a couple more Americans:

10601520 Sgt William H HEUBNER, a pilot who was taken POW on the 21st December 1943

J22405 1Lt Charles Elmo HAYDEN, a Bomb Aimer, who left 78 Squadron as 'sick' and was posted to RAF Holme

10601064 Sgt Richard Lewis "Dick" BARGER who was badly injured on operations with 78 Squadron and sent to RAF Holme on the 14th August 1943 to recover from his wounds (compression fracture of the spine). He survived the war and returned to the UK on a number of occasions to meet with his old crew mates; one of whom I was fortunate enough to become friends with and kept prolific notes on his time in the RAF including his time as a POW. Dick Barger transferred from the RCAF into the USAAF at the 12th Replacement Depot at Chorley in Lancashire but returned to 78 Squadron to complete his tour of operations.

Two others I have less details for, the first is Air Gunner Sergeant W KENT who joined 78 Squadron on the 29th April 1943 and left on the 1st June 1943, the entry in the Squadron ORB simply says to US Forces. The other is another Air Gunner Sgt L J RICHARD but I have no other details on him.

There may also be one more, possibly a native of New York, in the form of R156176 Flight Sergeant Art WORRALL. He joined the Squadron in early 1945 and the daughter of one of the other crew members, remembers that her dad would always bring two of the crew with him on leave, Art Worrall and Royse Townsend (R179607 F Sgt R Townsend RCAF). She believes that Art was from New York and Royse from Toronto. After the war both sent packages of bubble gum, chocolate etc. This is a new one for me, so I haven't done much with regards to either of these two young men.

Regards

Daz

[georgetanksherman]

Thankyou for the additional names 78SqnHistory, been trying to find Americans in R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. survivors and P.O.W.'s as well, those are a bit harder to locate, found a few, but I am sure there are more out there !

Hope all is well, be safe, Cheers !

George

[78SqnHistory]

George,

no problem, if I find any more I'll be sure to let you know so you can add them to your records. As you say there will be more out there, the challenge will be to find them.

Regards

Daz

[78SqnHistory]

George,

here is another who fits the criteria of American citizen who served with 78 Squadron and sadly paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy today:

R139127 William Stanley RAUSCH RCAF born in West Pittson, Pennsylvania and declared as a US citizen on enlistment.

KIA 24/10/1942 buried at Montcony, France

Regards

Daz

[georgetanksherman]

Wow, that is AWESOME, Thank You for the info, did not have him listed in my research, appreciate the help !

George

[78SqnHistory]

George,

no problem, happy to help. I'll let you know if I find any more.

Regards

Daz