Flt. Lt Edward Noel Thompson (568955), Ned to his friends, joined the RAF in January 1936 as ground crew. The following details are from his RAF Plots Flying Log Books 1 & 2. Which are in the care of his great nephew along with his D.F.C.
1st June 1941 transferred to Booker (EFTS) to train as a pilot and there trained on Tiger Moths, under the supervision of Sgt Sproxton. September 1941, at Brize Norton training in an Oxford with Squadron No2 No2.FTR. October transferred to Bobbington No3.ADNS and trained in the Anson. He then passed through Ossington, Wigtown, Bramcote and Wigtown. May 1943, at Lossiemouth No20 OUT and training in Wellingtons. By now he had 584 hours and was transferred to No1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor, where he became familiar with the Halifax, before joining Squadron 77
September 21st 1943, Halifax. His first raid as No1 pilot was Hanover.
October 22nd, 1 943, Halifax. On a raid to Kassel, returned with flak damage.
Flew in raids to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart in November /December 1943.
January 14th 1944 bombing raid on Berlin “Lost stb Inner Engine over target. R/o hit JU.88”
February 1944 commenced Mining Ops and on the 25th was again holed by Flak.
March 1st to 7th, bombing raids over France including Meulan, Trappes and Le Mans.
!3th March 1944, Mining Op. “Direct hit on nose by L/Flak. B/n killed. Nav. Injured. W/O/P hit by machine gun Fire”. Flew the damaged Halifax LL 227 back and landed at Ford Aerodrome.
For this he was award the DFC, citation entered in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette. Tuesday 4th April 1944 and read:- Distinguished Flying Cross Acting Flight Lieutenant Edward Noel Thompson, RAF . April 1944 This officer was the pilot of an aircraft detailed for a mine laying operation one night in March 1944. Whilst over the target area the aircraft came under heavyfire from the batteries on each side of the shore. Fl/Lt Thompson manoeuvred with much skill but eventually the aircraft was heavily hit. The nose of the aircraft was badly damaged and windscreen of the pilot’s cockpit was shattered. One crew member was killed and two seriously wunded. Never the less Fl/Lt Thompson released his mines and then set course for this country. Although deprived of his navigator who was too badly hurt to fullfil his duties, Fl/Lt flew the damaged aircraft to a home based airfield. In very trying circumstances this officer displayed skill. Courage and determination worthy of the highest praise.
20th March 1944 . New crew formed . air test at Butterworth. April 18th 1944 Mining ops April 20th 1944 Ops Ottignies April 22nd 1944 Ops Laon April 23rd 1944 Mining (missing) (Halifax LL235)
A Messerschmitt Bf 110 intercepted, believed piloted by the German ace Major Werner Husemann, the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe (1st Group) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3—3rd Night Fighter Wing). Halifax LL235 caught fire and then an explosion at 23.20 hours on the 23rd April 1944.
His family received a telegram reporting him missing on 25th April 1944.
His body was found near the wreckage on the and he was buried on the 1st May at Aabenraa. http://www.airmen.dk/a113126.htm
Crew: Pilot Flight Lieutenant Edward N. Thompson DFC . Navigator Pilot Officer Gerald Mc Clelland DFM. Bomb Aimer Flying Officer Alfred E.Robbins DFC Wireless Operator Flight Sergeant Frederick W Harvey Flight Engineer Sergeant J.Armstrong Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant Roy Redall Sole Survivor: Rear Gunner Sergeant D.M.M. Harris POW
http://www.airmen.dk/pdfs/infokarlsminde.pdf http://www.airmen.dk/p302night.htm
A memorial stone for the crew of Halifax LL235 was unveiled on April 2005, 150m northwest of Karlsmindevej 21, DK-6420,Nordborg., approximately 200 metres from the crash site.
Divers discovered the wreck site in the 1967 and recovered a propeller.