2nd Lt. Thomas D. Harmon
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 10th Air Force (10th AF)
51st Fighter Group (51st FG), 449th Fighter Squadron (449th FS)
Background
Thomas Dudley Harmon was born September 28, 1919 to parents Louis A. Harmon and Rose Marie née Quinn Harmon in Rensselaer, Indiana. Nicknamed Tom. In 1924, the family moved to Gary, Indiana where he attended Horace Mann High School class of 1937. As a high school student athlete, he received 14 varsity letters in 10 sports.
In 1937, Harmon enrolled in the University of Michigan class of 1940. He played halfback on the "Michigan Wolverines" with number 98. During 1939 and 1940, he led the nation in scoring and was a consensus All-American. In 1940 he won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award. Harmon was nicknamed "Old 98" by his teammates.
While appearing on the Bing Crosby radio show, he met Hollywood actress Elyse Knox. They were engaged to be married, but ended the relationship in early 1942 when he joined the military.
Wartime History
On March 26, 1942 Harmon enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) with serial number 16063660 as an aviation cadet. After flight training he earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-732545.
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Assigned to the 12th Air Force (12th AF), 17th Bombardment Group (17th BG), 95th Bombardment Squadron (95th BS) as a B-25 Mitchell pilot based at Greenville Airfield. Assigned B-25D "Little Butch" 41-29964 that was named in his honor with the nose art of a cartoon figure wearing a football uniform number "98" (Old 98) Harmon's number on the University of Michigan football team "Michigan Wolverines".
On April 9, 1943 took off from Atkinson Field in French Guiana (Guyana) piloting B-25D "Little Butch" 41-29964 on a ferry flight bound for Belem Airfield (Belém) in Brazil. Weather was overcast with cumulus cloud base from 800' to 12,000' with moderate to severe turbulence and rain, necessitating instrument flying. Two hours into the flight, the cylinder head temperature began to drop, possibly due to ice inside the carburetor. Pilot Harmon began to descend in a spiral to the left, when the right engine cut out, causing the bomber to go into a unrecoverable spin to the right. Harmon managed to bail out of the cockpit escape hatch and landed unhurt. The rest of the crew failed to exit the bomber and died in the crash approximately five miles southwest of Caux (Kaw), French Guiana (Guyana).
Afterwards, sent overseas to China Burma India (CBI). Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 51st Fighter Group (51st FG), 449th Fighter Squadron (449th FS) as a fighter pilot flying the P-38 Lightning. Assigned to P-38G "Little Butch II" 42-13221.
On October 30, 1043 took off from Ling Ling Airfield (Lingling) piloted P-38G Lightning 42-13415 as one of nine P-38s on a course of 43° from Hengyang on a mission to dive bomb docks five miles southwest of Kiukiang (Chiuchiang, Jiujiang). Over the target at 9:30am, the formation dive bombed from 8,000' then were intercepted by enemy fighters. Harmon claimed two enemy planes shot down. At 11:10am, last seen by P-38 pilot 1st Lt. Robert B. Schultz who saw him bail out over a small lake south of Kiukiang. Protecting him, Schultz prevented an enemy aircraft from strafing him as he descended and saw him alive when he reached the ground.
Harmon landed with minor injuries and saved some of the silk from his parachute. He was aided by Chinese Communist forces, who helped him to reach friendly lines. A month later, he returned to duty. When he returned to the United States, the parachute silk was used as material for his wife, Elsie Knox to use as material for her wedding dress.
During January 1944 he returned to the United States. In August 1944 married Elyse Knox who used the silk from his parachute for her wedding dress. During August 1945 he was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Force, ending his military career.
Aerial Victory Claims
Harmon was officially credited with two aerial victories on October 30, 1043.
Awards
Harmon earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for the October 30, 1943 mission.
Postwar
Harmon returned to play football. In September 1945 became sports editor for WJR radio in Detroit to be a sports broadcaster for University of Michigan football games for the 1945 season. Next, hired by the Mutual Radio Network and retired as a player and moved to California.
In July 1946 he returned from his short retirement to play for the Los Angeles Rams signing a two year contract and played in ten games. During the 1947 season he played in twelve games then retired and became a sports announcer in Glendale. In 1948 he covered Rams games for KFI radio in Los Angeles then as a play-by-play announcer for NBC including the first televised broadcast of a Rose Bowl Game.
During 1950 he began working for CBS and worked for KTLA television. In 1954, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1962 joined the sports staff for ABC radio network and did a daily ten minutes sports updates and news program and formed a company Tom Harmon Sports to produce the show.
In the early 1970s he was a spokesmen for Kellogs cereal and a play-by-play announcer for UCLA Bruins football on KTLA. His last gig was as host of Raider Playbook on KNBC in Los Angeles for play-by-play coverage of L.A. Raider preseason games. In 1978 he became a charter member of Michigan’s Hall of Honor.
Memorials
Harmon passed away on March 15, 1990 after a heart attack at age 70 in Los Angeles, CA and was cremated.
Relatives
Elyse Knox died February 16, 2012 (wife)
Kristin Harmon born June 25, 1945 (daughter)
Kelly Harmon born November 9, 1948 (daughter)
Mark Harmon born September 2, 1951 (son)
References
National Football Foundation - Tom Harmon (photo)
Heisman Trophy - Tom Harmon 1940 (photo)
Heisman Trophy "A TRIBUTE TO HEISMAN VETERANS" by Chris Huston November 11, 2019
"Tom Harmon of Michigan (’40) was also a pilot. After graduating, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was later awarded a Silver Star for his actions as a member of the 449th fighter squadron."
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Thomas D. Harmon
USAF Aerial Victory Credits -
Thomas D. Harmon page 82 (PDF 89)
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Harmon, Thomas D. page 82 (PDF page 89)
The Hall of Valor Project - Thomas D. Harmon Silver Star
Time Magazine "Michigan's Harmon" Vol. XXXIV No. 19 November 6, 1939
(cover photo, article)
Time Magazine August 28, 1944
Pilots Also Pray (1944) by Thomas D. Harmon
Los Angeles Times "Tom Harmon Dies at 70 : Football: Michigan’s Old 98, Heisman Trophy winner in 1940, suffered a heart attack after playing round of golf" March 16, 1990
FindAGrave - Tom Harmon (photos) date of death listed as March 17, 1990 [sic March 15, 1990]
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