John Marlow Thompson
John Marlow Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 August 1914 Second World War
|
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Air Force Cross Military Cross, First Class (Belgium) |
Born in Somerset, England, Thompson joined the RAF in 1934 and once his training was completed was posted to No. 29 Squadron. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he became commander of No. 111 Squadron which he led through the Battle of France and the subsequent Battle of Britain. During this time, he achieved a number of aerial victories. In mid-1942 he was sent to the Middle East and was a wing leader, operating from Malta for several months. He held a series of staff and command posts for the remainder of the war. He stayed in the RAF in the postwar period, eventually ending his military career in 1966 as commander of the Military Air Traffic Organisation. He worked briefly in civil aviation before becoming involved in golf club administration. He retired in 1983 and died in Brighton eleven years later aged 79.
Early life
John Marlow Thompson was born on 16 August 1914 in
By September 1937 Thompson was a flight commander with the squadron, having received a further promotion to flight lieutenant.[2]
Second World War
In January 1940, and with the Second World War well underway, Thompson was promoted to acting
Battle of France
Thompson first saw action during the
Returning to No. 111 Squadron, Thompson flew in support of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. On 31 May he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter to the north of Dunkirk, but this was unconfirmed. The squadron subsequently provided escorts for the Fleet Air Arm's bombing operations over the French coast and during one of these, on 11 June, Thompson destroyed a Bf 109, damaged another and also engaged and damaged a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber.[4][5] The squadron was then briefly rested so it could train up replacement pilots.[3]
Battle of Britain
In the early stages of the
This officer has commanded a squadron since January, 1940, and has operated over various areas in Northern France. He has taken part in nearly every patrol and, under his leadership, eighty-one enemy aircraft have been destroyed, twelve probably destroyed and at least forty-four damaged. He has, himself, shot down eight and damaged at least six enemy aircraft.
—The London Gazette, No. 34940, 6 September 1940.[6]
Channel Front
Thompson moved into an air staff position at the headquarters of 11 Group in October 1940, where he remained for several months. Then, in June 1941, he was given command of No. 131 Squadron.[4] This was a new squadron, formed at Ouston around a cadre of Belgian pilots and equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters.[7]
Thompson worked the unit up to operational status by October and the following month he and several Belgian pilots were detached to form the basis of
Malta
Newly promoted to wing commander,[2] Thompson was sent to the Middle East and found himself without a role once in Egypt. He contrived to get himself sent to Malta in July, where he became the temporary wing leader of the Takali Fighter Wing. After a few weeks, the nominal commander of the wing arrived and Thompson took over leadership of the Hal Far Fighter Wing. Flying south of Sicily, he and another pilot shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 on 27 August. During the October blitz of Malta mounted by the Luftwaffe, Thompson achieved a number of aerial victories, the first of which being a Bf 109 that he shot down over St. Paul's Bay. He damaged a Bf 109 the following day and on 14 October damaged another Bf 109 and destroyed a Ju 88, the latter to the north of Zonkor.[5] In December, he was awarded a Bar to his DFC[11] and later in the month took command of the Luqa Fighter Wing, the third of Malta's fighter wings. He was the only RAF officer to command all of the island's fighter wings.[5] In May 1943, Thompson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the published citation reading:
This officer has a fine operational record. He fought in France and later took part in the Battle of Britain. For the past 9 months he has been engaged in flying operations from Malta, playing a prominent part in the defence of the island during a period of intense air attacks. Latterly, Wing Commander Thompson has led formations of fighter-bombers in numerous successful attacks against port installations, factories, airfields and other targets. By his great skill and brilliant leadership, Wing Commander Thompson has contributed in a large measure to the excellent results obtained.
—The London Gazette, No. 36015, 14 May 1943.[12]
Later war service
In June, Thompson was posted to RAF headquarters on Malta, with responsibility for training. Soon afterwards, he became ill with
He ended the war credited with having destroyed eight confirmed enemy aircraft, with a share in two more destroyed. Three more were unconfirmed destroyed, one probably destroyed and one shared and seven damaged.[5]
Postwar career
Thompson attended the
Later life
Thompson's aviation expertise was in demand and shortly after his retirement he became the general manager of Airwork in Saudi Arabia for two years. He also acted as an aviation consultant. In 1969 he became secretary of the Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire which was followed by an 11-year tenure as secretary of the Monte Carlo Golf Club. In 1983 he retired to Sussex where he lived until his death in Brighton on 23 July 1994.[15]
Notes
- ^ Ashcroft 2012, p. 129.
- ^ a b c d e f Wynn 1989, p. 401.
- ^ a b c Rawlings 1976, pp. 237–238.
- ^ a b c Ashcroft 2012, p. 130.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 585–586.
- ^ "No. 34940". The London Gazette. 6 September 1940. p. 5407.
- ^ Rawlings 1976, pp. 268–269.
- ^ Rawlings 1976, p. 416.
- ^ Ashcroft 2012, p. 131.
- ^ "No. 35845". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1943. p. 86.
- ^ "No. 35809". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 December 1942. p. 5266.
- ^ "No. 36015". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 May 1943. p. 2152.
- ^ "No. 39421". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1952. p. 33.
- ^ "No. 40366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1955. p. 10.
- ^ a b Ashcroft 2012, p. 132.
References
- Ashcroft, Michael (2012). Heroes of the Skies: Amazing True Stories of Courage in the Air. London: Headline Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7553-6389-6.
- Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
- Wynn, Kenneth G. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich: Gliddon Books. ISBN 0-947893-15-6.
