• Lockheed Hudson

Date of birth:

December 15th, 1917 (Auckland/Northern Island, New Zealand)

Date of death:

March 21st, 1945 (Maulusmühle, Luxembourg)

Buried on:

Memorial and War Graves Hudson Transport Airplane

Service number:

NZ.412766

Nationality:

New Zealander (1907-1947, Dominion UK)

Forrest Harold Thompson was born on December 15th, 1917 as the son to Waldo Samual and Ethel Annie Thompson and was married to Olive Mabel Thompson.

He was killed on March 21st, 1945 as Air Gunner with the rank of Flying Officer in Lockheed Hudson, FK803 "MA-N", 161 Squadron, that crashed near Maulusmühle during SOE Operatie Benedict to Germany.

The Pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Terence Helfer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, managed to escape by parachute. The other crew members and three Belgian Secret Agents were killed. The total crew excisted of:
- Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Terence Helfer, 127041 RAFVR;
- Wireless Operator, Flying Officer Raymond Frankish Escreet, 143469 RAFVR, KIA;
- Navigator, Flying Officer Henry Scurr Johnson, 168807 RAFVR, KIA;
- Air Gunner, Flying Officer Forrest Harold Thompson, 412766 RNZAF, KIA;
- Guy José Florent Corbisier, KIA;
- Léon Ghislain de Winter, KIA;
- Jean-Jacques Morel, KIA.

Promotions:
?: Sergeant.

Career:
?: Gisborne High School;
?: Ruakura Agricultural College;
?: Sheep Farmer, Tokomaru Bay;
May 1941: Initial Training Wing, R.N.Z.A.F., Levin;
August 1941: Empire Training Scheme, Canada;
January 1942: No. ? Operational Training Unit, England;
September 1942: No. 218 Squadron;
?: Bombing and Gunnery Flight, Warham;
March 1944: No. 161 Squadron.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1943

Citation:
"Flight Sergeant Thompson, in the capacity of Rear Gunner, has taken part in many operational sorties. His determination, resource and coolness in difficult circumstances have been material factors in the success achieved. On one occasion, when returning from a mining operation, he shot out the lights of a searchlight battery. On other occasions, this airman has made successful machine-gun attacks on enemy trains and an airfield, where fires were started. At all times, he has set a splendid example to the younger members of his crew."

LG 36084/3096.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded with "FRANCE AND GERMANY' clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Familie
• Photo 2: Mia van den Berg
• Photo: Family
  
• - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 6th July 1943, Issue 36084, dated 9th July 1943
  - Commonwealth Wargraves Commission
  - Free Belgians
  - Roll of Honour
  - Auckland War Memorial Museum
  

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Lockheed Hudson