Thomas Wallace (RAF officer)

Thomas Young Wallace

From Johannesburg, Wallace joined the RAF in 1939 and once his training was completed in June the following year was posted as a pilot officer to No. 610 Squadron. He lost his commission after a court-martial for being absent without leave but promptly joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was posted to No. 111 Squadron and flying a Hawker Hurricane fighter achieved a number of aerial victories during the Battle of Britain. He spent the next three years of his war service in non-operational roles until September 1944, when he was given command of No. 609 Squadron. He was killed in action while flying a Hawker Typhoon fighter over Dunkirk in France.

Early life

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 5 October 1916, Thomas Young Wallace was the son of William Francis and Ruth Agnes Wallace.^[1][2] He left South Africa to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1939, initially attending No. 7 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School at Desford that August. Two months later, he was accepted into the RAF as a probationary acting pilot officer on a short service commission.^[1][3]

Second World War

In November 1939, Wallace went to No. 6 Flying Training School at

Soon after Wallace's arrival, No. 111 Squadron returned to operations, patrolling south-east England as the Battle of Britain increased in intensity.^[6] On 15 August Wallace shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters and damaged two more; the next day he claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter destroyed and probably shot down a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber. On 18 August, he destroyed a Do 17 and damaged two others. He damaged a Bf 109 on 24 August and then two days later shared in the destruction of a Do 17. On the final day of August, he shot down a Bf 110, damaged a second and claimed a Do 17 as a probable. On 4 September, he shot down a Bf 109 and damaged three others. Three days later, Wallace's Hurricane was damaged over the English Channel but he managed to get back to land before bailing out. His success in the previous three weeks saw him awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) in October.^[1][7]

The published citation for his DFM read

In a period of three weeks, Sergeant Wallace has destroyed seven enemy aircraft and probably another four. On one occasion he became separated from his squadron and, single-handed, pursued a formation of enemy bombers back to the French coast. While in mid-channel he was attacked by six enemy fighters, and although his aircraft was severely damaged in the resulting battle, he shot down one enemy aircraft and damaged another. Sergeant Wallace has displayed conspicuous courage and fighting ability.

— 

London Gazette, No. 34978, 25 October 1940.^[8]

By the time of his DFM award, No. 111 Squadron had been transferred to Scotland, for a period of light duties following its intensive involvement in the Battle of Britain.[6]

Later war service

Wallace shared in the damage of a

Wallace was buried at Pihen-les-Guines War Cemetery in the Pas-de-Calais, France.^[2] He is credited with having shot down six aircraft, with a share in one more destroyed. He also claimed two aircraft as probably destroyed and ten aircraft damaged, one of which was shared with other pilots. Two of the aircraft reported as damaged were identified as probables in his DFM citation.^[7]

Notes

References

• 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. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books.
  ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6
  .