DOB/DOD: December 12, 1914 (Bay City, MI) – March 16, 1942; 27 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 1 Broadview Terrace
ENLISTMENT: Unknown
SERVICE NUMBER: 6134372
UNIT: 329th School Squadron
FAMILY: Born to Franciszek “Frank” Dybicz (1881-1920) and Stella Koschinski Dybicz (1891-1924). Both parents were born in Poland. One brother, Adam C. (1911-1944). Thomas’ sister was a nun in Pennsylvania, Mary Edith [at death her name was Joanne Marie] (1913-1984). His father died when he was 6 years old, and his mother when he was 10; both are buried in Michigan. There is no information on who raised the family.
The Bakersfield Californian, March 17, 1942
Two Gardner Field men, flying east on official business, were killed last night near Winslow, Arizona when their plane crashed shortly after 6 p.m. The dead are First Lieutenant Thomas Bither, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Bither of Berkeley, and Technical Sergeant T. A. Dybicz, 28, of Norwalk, Connecticut. Lieutenant Bither was born December 5, 1916, in Berkeley, where he was educated in public schools and at the University of California. He took primary flight training at Santa Maria, Randolph, and Kelly fields and was commissioned on July 26, 1940. He came to Gardner Field on July 7, 1941, where he was a station engineering officer. Sergeant Dybicz was born December 12, 1914, in Norwalk, Connecticut. He first enlisted at Hickam Field, Hawaii, re-enlisting at Gardner in September 1941. He is survived by a brother in Norwalk. Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth C. McGregor, commanding Gardner Field, said “the flight was not routine,” but declined to give information on the pair’s destination or cause of the crash.
From The Norwalk Hour March 18, 1942
Taft, Calif. (AP) — The Army announced yesterday that Technical Sergeant T.A. Dybicz of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Lieutenant Tom S. Bither of Berkeley, California, were killed on Monday night in a plane crash near Winslow, Arizona. Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth C. McGregor, commander of Gardner Field here, would not divulge details of the crash. Sergeant Dybicz is the brother of Adam C. Dybicz, who lives at 102 East Avenue. Adam is now working in a defense plant in Bridgeport. He formerly was head of the grocery department at Kieran and Sloane’s, 76 Wall Street. About a year ago, the brother, then stationed in Honolulu, came here on a three-month leave, and during part of that time, he also worked at Kieran and Sloane’s. Adam’s wife was Mac Gorman of Nelson Avenue. Sergeant Dybicz lived at 1 Broadview Terrace before entering the U.S. Army. In addition to his brother, he is survived by a sister, Mary Edith, of the Order of St. Berdardine, Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Funeral services, in charge of Magner Funeral Home, will be announced later.
Buried in St John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section B1, Grave 63E ½ (in the Valieant plot). Photo by author.
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