Thomas Meade Twisdale

Thomas Meade Twisdale, Col., USA (Ret.), died of natural causes on December 28, 2017 at the age of 97. Col. Twisdale was born and raised in Anniston, AL. Educational background was in Financial Management. He entered the Army Air Corps on August 12, 1942, qualifying for Pilot, Navigator, and Bombardier. He elected to become a Bombardier as a result of being influenced by the movie “Bombardier,” starring Pat O’Brien. Upon graduation and commissioned a 2nd Lt., he reported to Salt Lake City for his initial assignment. He was assigned to a new B-24 Bomber Group that was being formed at Clovis Air Base, NM to complete their Phase Training. Upon completion of the Phase Training, they received orders to proceed to England via South America, Africa, French Morocco, Scotland, and England. The Group’s first combat mission was the first daylight raid on Berlin. Twisdale volunteered to fly with another Crew the next day in an effort to get his 25 missions in quickly. He had married Peggy Lee Rahrer, his High School sweetheart, two days prior to the Group’s departure for England. His Crew’s next mission was to Brunswick where they were shot down by German ME 109s. Eight of his crew members were killed. Following intensive interrogation, he was taken to Stalag Luft 1 POW Camp located on the Baltic Sea. He remained there for 13 months until liberated by the Russians.

Following his return to the US, he later elected to apply for Pilot Training and was sent to Randolph Field, TX. Later, his wife asked him to stop flying because they were expecting their first child. He then transferred to the Army Finance Corps. He later served as a Senior Instructor at the Army Finance School in Indianapolis, IN. He served in Korea in 1951 and 1952 as the Deputy Staff Finance Officer, Hq. 8th US Army in Taegu and the Finance Officer of the 106th Finance Disbursing Section. Later served as the Deputy Staff Finance Officer in Orleans, France; Finance and Accounting Officer Landstuhl, Germany and Ft. Ord, CA; Office, Chief of Finance, Pentagon; and Staff Officer in Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Appeared before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in support of various military pay and allowance proposed Legislation. He retired in May 1971 with 29 years of service. He was recalled to Active Duty in January 1983 to serve as the Chief of the Army Unit of the Fifth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, retiring again on December 31, 1983. His decorations include two Legion of Merits, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, and the POW Medal.

A funeral service will be held at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to The Tisch Brain Tumor Center https://tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu/donate or Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust https://cst.dav.org/donate/DonateNow.aspx

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