Date of birth:

August 16th, 1914 (Saltford/Somerset, Great Britain)

Date of death:

July 24th, 1994 (Brighton/East Sussex, Great Britain)

Service number:

34183

Nationality:

British

Also received the AFC (January 1st, 1952) and the CBE (January 1st, 1955).

Promotions:
March 16th, 1934: Acting Pilot Officer on probation;
March 16th, 1935: Pilot Officer on probation;
March 16th, 1935: Pilot Officer;
September 16th, 1936: Flying Officer;
September 16th, 1937: Acting Flight Lieutenant;
September 16th, 1938: Flight Lieutenant;
January 24th, 1940: Acting Squadron Leader;
June 1st, 1940: Temporary Squadron Leader;
March 1st, 1942: Temporary Wing Commander;
April 13th, 1944: Acting Group Captain;
October 13th, 1944: Wing Commander (war subs.);
September 1st, 1945: Squadron Leader (seniority June 1st, 1944);
July 1st, 1947: Wing Commander;
July 1st, 1953: Group Captain;
July 1st, 1959: Air Commodore.

Career:
?: Bristol Grammar School;
March 16th, 1934; Short Commission Royal Air Force;
March 16th, 1934: Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot;
April 3rd, 1934: under training Pilot No. 5 Flying Training School;
March 4th, 1935: Pilot No. 29 Squadron;
January 15th, 1936: Pilot No. 56 Squadron;
August 4th, 1936: Pilot No. 151 Squadron;
September 16th, 1937: Flight Commander No. 151 Squadron;
January 24th, 1940: Commanding Officer No. 111 Squadron;
October 5th, 1940 Air Staff Headquarters No. 11 Group;
June 1941: Commanding Officer No. 131 Squadron;
November 1941: Commanding Officer No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron;
May 1942: Wing Commander Takali Wing, Malta;
June 1942: Wing Commander Hal Far Wing, Malta;
December 18th, 1942: Wing Commander Luqa Wing, Malta;
June 1943: Wing Commander Training, AHQ Malta;
November 23rd, 1943: Commanding Officer RAF Hal Far, Malta;
February 1944: Commanding Officer No.? Wing
1944: Commanding Officer No. 338 Wing;
March 29th, 1944: SASO, Headquarters No. 210 Group;
1944: Group Captain Operations, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces;
1945: Commanding Officer Personnel Transit Centre, Naples;
May 8th, 1945: Sector Commander, RAF North Weald;
September 1945: Staff College;
1946: Wing Commander Operations, HQ BAFO, Berlin;
1949: Wing Commander, RAF Thorney Island;
?: Wing Commander, RAF Waterbeach;
March 17th, 1952: SASA Headquarters No. 11 Group;
March 1957: Commanding Officer RAF Leeming;
December 1st, 1958 - 1960: Director Air Defence;
December 19th, 1960: Imperial Defence College;
1962: Commanding Officer Military Air Traffic Control;
September 14th, 1966: Retirement;
?: General Manager Airwork, Saudi Arabia;
?: Secretary Moor Park Golf Club;
?: Secretary Monte Carlo Golf Club.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Awarded on:

September 6th, 1940

Citation:
"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."

LG 34940/5407.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Awarded on:

December 4th, 1942

Citation:
This officer who took part in the Battle of Britain, as since completed numerous operational sorties over Sicily. One day in October, 1942, he led his section with such skill that a formation of three hostile aircraft was totally destroyed. Some days later he was in the leading aircraft of a formation which attacked seven heavy bombers with an escort of fifty fighters. As a result of his interception the bombers were scattered before they could release their bombs. He has been responsible for the destruction of ten enemy aircraft and many more damaged."

LG 35809/5266.
Second DFC awarded as a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Awarded on:

1942

Permission to wear the decoration granted on January 1st, 1943.
LG 35845/86.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing Commander

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1943

Citation:
"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."

LG 36015/2152.

• - The London Gazette of 3rd April 1934, Issue 34038
  - The London Gazette of 9th April 1935, Issue 34149
  - The London Gazette of 20th October 1936, Issue 34333
  - The London Gazette of 28th September 1937, Issue 34439
  - The London Gazette of 27th September 1938, Issue 34555
  - The London Gazette of 7th June 1940, Issue 34866
  - The London Gazette of 6th September 1940, Issue 34940
  - The London Gzette of 27th March 1942, Issue 35503
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st December 1942, Issue 35809, dated 4th December 1942
  - Sixth Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th December 1942, Issue 35845, dated 1st January 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 11th May 1943, Issue 36015, dated 14th May 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th January 1944, Issue 36323, dated 11th January 1944
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th November 1944, Issue 36798, dated 17th November 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th March 1946, Issue 37518, dated 2nd April 1946
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th February 1947, Issue 37892, dated 28th February 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 18th July 1947, Issue 38020, dated 22nd July 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th December 1951, Issue 39421, dated 1st January 1952
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th June 1953, Issue 39900, dated 30th June 1953
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st December 1954, Issue 40366, dated 1st January 1955
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th June 1959, Issue 41753, dated 30th June 1959
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 23rd September 1966, Issue 44123, dated 27th September 1966