John Marlow Thompson
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore John Marlow Thompson CBE
DSO
DFC & Bar
AFC
(16 August 1914 - 23 July 1994) was a Second World War Royal Air Force
ace
and Battle of Britain
pilot.
Thompson was born on 16 August 1914 in Keynsham
, Somerset
and he joined the Royal Air Force on 16 March 1934. He finished his pilot training in March 1935 and was posted to 29 Squadron
. By 1937 he was a flight commander with 151 Squadron and then with promotion to acting Squadron Leader he took command of 111 Squadron with Hawker Hurricane
s in January 1940. He moved on to an air staff position with 11 Group
in October 1940. He gained command of 131 Squadron
in June 1941 and in November 1941 he became the commanding officer of 350 (Belgian) Squadron.. In early 1942 he was moved to the Middle East to become a wing leader and later commanding officer of RAF Hal Far
in Malta at the end of 1943.
Thompson attended staff college in 1945 and by 1957 was officer commanding RAF Leeming
, becoming the Director of Air Defence in December 1958. His last appointment was at HQ Military Air Traffic Organisation in 1962 until he retired in September 1966.
, leading a detachment of 111 Squadron. His Hurricane was damaged by Bf 110s on 19 May, and he force-landed. H claimed two victories confirmed and 3 unconfirmed during this period. Under his command 111 Squadron provided escort for the Fleet Air Arm
's bombing operations over the French coast during June 1940.He flew during the Battle of Britain
, and was awarded the DFC in September. Thompson claimed a further four victories during the Battle.
During August- October 1942, as Hal Far Wing Leader on Malta, Thompson claimed two more victories, a Ju 88 of KG 54 and a JG 27 Bf 109 F, and several aircraft damaged.
At the end of the Second World War Thompson had eight confirmed destroyed and two shared, three unconfirmed destroyed, one probable and one shared and seven damaged.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DFC & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(16 August 1914 - 23 July 1994) was a Second World War Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
and Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
pilot.
Thompson was born on 16 August 1914 in Keynsham
Keynsham
Keynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and he joined the Royal Air Force on 16 March 1934. He finished his pilot training in March 1935 and was posted to 29 Squadron
No. 29 Squadron RAF
No. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was...
. By 1937 he was a flight commander with 151 Squadron and then with promotion to acting Squadron Leader he took command of 111 Squadron with Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s in January 1940. He moved on to an air staff position with 11 Group
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
in October 1940. He gained command of 131 Squadron
No. 131 Squadron RAF
No. 131 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a night bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
in June 1941 and in November 1941 he became the commanding officer of 350 (Belgian) Squadron.. In early 1942 he was moved to the Middle East to become a wing leader and later commanding officer of RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
in Malta at the end of 1943.
Thompson attended staff college in 1945 and by 1957 was officer commanding RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
, becoming the Director of Air Defence in December 1958. His last appointment was at HQ Military Air Traffic Organisation in 1962 until he retired in September 1966.
Fighter Ace
Thompson first saw action during the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, leading a detachment of 111 Squadron. His Hurricane was damaged by Bf 110s on 19 May, and he force-landed. H claimed two victories confirmed and 3 unconfirmed during this period. Under his command 111 Squadron provided escort for the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
's bombing operations over the French coast during June 1940.He flew during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, and was awarded the DFC in September. Thompson claimed a further four victories during the Battle.
During August- October 1942, as Hal Far Wing Leader on Malta, Thompson claimed two more victories, a Ju 88 of KG 54 and a JG 27 Bf 109 F, and several aircraft damaged.
At the end of the Second World War Thompson had eight confirmed destroyed and two shared, three unconfirmed destroyed, one probable and one shared and seven damaged.
Retirement
He became the general manager of Airwork in Saudi Arabia for the first two years after he retired from the RAF and then returned to the UK to become secretary of the Moor Park Golf Club which was followed by an 11 year tenure as secretary of the Monte Carlo Golf Club. In 1983 he returned to Sussex where he stayed until his death in 1994.Honours and awards
- 6 September 1940 - Squadron Leader John Marlow Thompson awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
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.
- 4 December 1942 - Wing Commander John Marlow Thompson, DFC, Reserve of Air Force Officers, Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
- 1 January 1943 - Wing Commander John Marlow Thompson, DFC, Reserve of Air Force Officer - Military Cross, First Class, conferred by the Belgian government in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.
- 14 May 1943 - Wing Commander John Marlow Thompson, DFC, Reserve of Air Force Officers awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)Distinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
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.
- 1 January 1952 - Wing Commander John Marlow Thompson, DSO, DFC, RAF awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC)Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
- 1 January 1955 - Group Captain John Marlow Thompson, DSO, DFC, AFC, Royal Air Force, appointed a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...