Last updated: January 15, 2026
Person
Revell, Thomas Perry
Thomas Hackler Sr.
Quick Facts
Significance:
322nd Air Division, 40th Troop Carrier/317th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance
Place of Birth:
Rhea County, Tennessee
Date of Birth:
October 12, 1926
Place of Death:
Nairobi, Kenya
Date of Death:
May 17, 1962
Place of Burial:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Cemetery Name:
Stones River National Cemetery
Thomas Perry Revell was born on October 12, 1926 in Rhea County, Tennessee and worked in construction before enlisting. He served in the US Navy during World War II. After the war, Revell was a Technical Sergeant in the Air Force and served for the 317th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance until the unit was retired.
He was then assigned to the 322nd Air Division, 40th Troop Carrier. He was involved in the beginning of the space program. On May 17, 1962, he was sent on a mission to go to a specified location to help Scott Carpenter in the Mercury space flight in a C-130 plane. The plane crashed in Nairobi, Kenya, and 13 men, including Revell, died. They were among the first losses of the fledgling space program. Revell is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot P-6460-A.