Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson
Encyclopedia
Captain
Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson MC
DFC
was a World War I
two-seater fighter ace
who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with 30 kills ( 18 destroyed, 12 'out of control'). He was shot down and killed in action September 1918. Despite having an active fighter career of only five months, he reached the rank of Captain and won two British military decoration
s.
in 1890. Already a temporary second lieutenant
in the Army Service Corps, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
on 7 June 1917 at the age of 27, and was appointed a flying officer.
in late 1917, Thompson's career started somewhat awkwardly, as he crashed his aircraft on 27 October, after which he was transferred to No. 22 Squadron
.
His aircraft of choice was the Bristol F.2b
, with which he scored his first kill, an Albatros D.V
, east of Merville
, France
on 22 April 1918, as a member of No. 22 Squadron.
An extremely aggressive pilot, in May 1918 he scored 9 victories, including three Pfalz D.III
aircraft around 10am on 16 May, near Douai
. Also notable was his downing of two more D.IIIs on 21 May, south-west of Vitry-en-Artois
.
June 1918 was also fruitful for Thompson, as he scored 8 victories mostly in the aircraft C929 (a Bristol F.2b
). At Erquinghem-le-Sec
on 1 June, he downed an Albatros C.III
in addition to an Albatros D.V
, and the next day (2 June) he got another two kills near Lens, Pas-de-Calais
, this time two Pfalz D.III
s. He only scored one kill in July, a Fokker Dr.I
near Laventie
on 26 July.
In August he scored a further six victories at Dechy
, the road connecting Arras
and Cambrai
, Douai
and Senlemont. He shot down, amongst others, three Fokker D.VII
aircraft. He was promoted to temporary captain
on 24 August.
September started off well for Thompson, with four victories against Fokker D.VII
s up until 24 September. He received the Military Cross
on 16 September. On 27 September 1918, in aircraft E2243, he downed a Halberstadt C north of Noyelles before being shot down east of Cambrai
by Oberleutnant
Otto Schmidt of Jasta 5. Thompson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
on 2 November. He is commemorated in Arras
at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
, the highest-scoring observer
ace during the war, for two of his victories, on 22 April and 26 July 1918, as well as with Sergeant
L Kendrick for two victories in May 1918. The observer on his final flight was Second Lieutenant
Clifford Tolman, an 'ace' with 8 victories, who was also killed in the crash.
However, for most of his time of service he flew with Observer Sergeant
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
DFM
, who recorded 26 victories during the war, and was crewed with Thompson on no fewer than 25 of the pilot's 30 victories, claiming at least six kills in his own right.
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
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...
was a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
two-seater fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with 30 kills ( 18 destroyed, 12 'out of control'). He was shot down and killed in action September 1918. Despite having an active fighter career of only five months, he reached the rank of Captain and won two British military decoration
Military decoration
A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
s.
Early life
Thompson was born to Samuel W. Thompson, a medical practitioner, and his wife Florence in Bow, LondonBow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
in 1890. Already a temporary second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Army Service Corps, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
on 7 June 1917 at the age of 27, and was appointed a flying officer.
Service
After joining No. 20 SquadronNo. 20 Squadron RAF
No. 20 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was until March 2010, the OCU for the BAE Harrier GR9, and T12, operating from RAF Wittering...
in late 1917, Thompson's career started somewhat awkwardly, as he crashed his aircraft on 27 October, after which he was transferred to No. 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron RAF
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
.
His aircraft of choice was the Bristol F.2b
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
, with which he scored his first kill, an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
, east of Merville
Merville
Merville is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Merville, in the Haute-Garonne département* Merville, in the Nord département* Merville-Franceville-Plage, in the Calvados département...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 22 April 1918, as a member of No. 22 Squadron.
An extremely aggressive pilot, in May 1918 he scored 9 victories, including three Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
aircraft around 10am on 16 May, near Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
. Also notable was his downing of two more D.IIIs on 21 May, south-west of Vitry-en-Artois
Vitry-en-Artois
Vitry-en-Artois is a commune and in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Vitry-en-Artois is situated some northeast of Arras, at the junction of the N50, D39 and the D42 roads. The river Scarpe flows through the town, which is also served by the SNCF...
.
June 1918 was also fruitful for Thompson, as he scored 8 victories mostly in the aircraft C929 (a Bristol F.2b
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
). At Erquinghem-le-Sec
Erquinghem-le-Sec
-References:*...
on 1 June, he downed an Albatros C.III
Albatros C.III
-See also:-References:[1] Y. MIlanov: The aviation in Bulgaria in the wars from 1912 to 1945, Vol.I. Sveti Gueorgui Pobedonosetz, Sofia, 1995 -External links:...
in addition to an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
, and the next day (2 June) he got another two kills near Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, this time two Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
s. He only scored one kill in July, a Fokker Dr.I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
near Laventie
Laventie
Laventie is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming and light industrial town, situated some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the D166, D173 and D174 roads. Famous for its...
on 26 July.
In August he scored a further six victories at Dechy
Dechy
Dechy is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, the road connecting Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
and Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and Senlemont. He shot down, amongst others, three Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
aircraft. He was promoted to temporary captain
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
on 24 August.
September started off well for Thompson, with four victories against Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s up until 24 September. He received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
on 16 September. On 27 September 1918, in aircraft E2243, he downed a Halberstadt C north of Noyelles before being shot down east of Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
by Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Otto Schmidt of Jasta 5. Thompson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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...
on 2 November. He is commemorated in Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
Observers
Thompson claimed at least 18 of his victories with the front gun, the rest being claimed by his gunners. He flew with Lieutenant Charles George GassCharles George Gass
Squadron Leader Charles George Gass MC was the highest scoring observer ace during the First World War, with a total of 39 victories scored serving as a gunner flying with various pilots...
, the highest-scoring observer
Air observer
An air observer is a British term for a military aircrew member whose duties are predominantly reconnaissance. The term originates in the First World War in the Royal Flying Corps, and was maintained by its successor, the Royal Air Force...
ace during the war, for two of his victories, on 22 April and 26 July 1918, as well as with Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
L Kendrick for two victories in May 1918. The observer on his final flight was Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Clifford Tolman, an 'ace' with 8 victories, who was also killed in the crash.
However, for most of his time of service he flew with Observer Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher DFM was an English World War I observer/gunner ace in two-seater fighters who, in conjunction with his pilot, Lt. S.F.H. Thompson, gained 26 confirmed victories...
DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
, who recorded 26 victories during the war, and was crewed with Thompson on no fewer than 25 of the pilot's 30 victories, claiming at least six kills in his own right.
Citations
- Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished 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...