Date of death:

September 23rd, 1944

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 24. Row: E. Grave: 10-11.

Service number:

1320336/168636

Nationality:

British

Thomas Wilson Black was the son of William Alexander Black and Mary Black.
He received his flight training under the Empire Training Scheme in South-Africa. Returning to Great Britain aboard R.M.S. Laconia, the vessel was torpedoed on September 12th, 1942 by U 156 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Werner Hartenstein. He rescued the survivors but was forced later on to abandon them when his U-boat was attacked by an American B-24 bomber.
Thomas Black was picked up by another vessel and made it to Great Britain. He served in 9 A.F.U., 29 O.T.U., 44 Squadron and 97 Squadron.
He died September 23rd, 1944, as a navigator in 97 Squadron.

Promotions:
?: Flight Sergeant;
November 10th, 1943: Pilot Officer on probation (emergency);
May 10th , 1944, Pilot Officer;
May 10th, 1944, Flying Officer (war subs.).

Career:
A pril 6th , 1943, No. 9 AFU;
?: No. 29 Operational Training Unit;
?: No. 44 Squadron;
May 1944 - September 29th, 1944, No. 97 Squadron.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Unit:

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 6th, 1944

Recommendation:
"Since joining the Squadron in September, Pilot Officer Black has participated, as Navigator of his crew in 24 successful operational sorties all with one exception against German targets. He has been to Berlin on seven occasions, Stuttgart and Hanover twice, each, and also to Munich and Leipzig. This Officer is an extremely efficient Air Navigator, as is evidenced by the fact that he is invariably chosen to find winds for the main force, and also to act as backer-up to the Pathfinder Force. His fine fighting spirit is best exemplified by his applications that immediately on conclusion of his first operational tour he be allowed to proceed to PFF to undertake a second tour. This Officer's skilled and accurate work has been maintained throughout a long tour of arduous operational duty, and it undoubtedly reflects not only a high devotion to duty, but also obvious personal courage. The confidence placed in his abilities by the remainder of his crew has been an indispensable contribution to the efficiency and success with which they have pressed home their attacks on a number of heavily defended targets."

LG 36550/2700.
Recommended on March 15th, 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1944

• - Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 14th January 1944, Issue 36333, dated 18th January 1944
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 30th May 1944, Issue 36541, dated 2nd June 1944
  - Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd June 1944, Issue 36550, dated 6th June 1944
  - Bosley's military auctioneers
  - Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  

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