F/O Alexander S Thomson RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1944/45
Failed to Return – 1/2nd March 1945 – Avro Lancaster I – PD272 – Op Mannheim.
Alexander Thomson and crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds from Heavy Conversion Unit 11 Base on the 23rd October 1944. This crew were lost on their 18th operation. See below :-
09-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel - Lancaster - JB655 - P/O AS Thomson
21-Nov-44 - Aschenaffenburg - Lancaster - JA857 - P/O AS Thomson
04-Dec-44 - Karlsruhe - Lancaster - ED888 - F/O AS Thomson
06-Dec-44 - Leuna - Lancaster - NG360 - F/O AS Thomson
15-Dec-44 - Ludwigshafen/Oppau - Lancaster - PB563 - F/O AS Thomson
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Lancaster - N/K - F/O AS Thomson
28-Dec-44 - Munchengladbach - Lancaster - PB528 - F/O AS Thomson
02-Jan-45 - Nuremberg - Lancaster - PB637 - F/O AS Thomson
05-Jan-45 - Hanover - Lancaster - PB637 - F/O AS Thomson
07-Jan-45 - Munich - Lancaster - NF909 - F/O AS Thomson
28-Jan-45 – Stuttgart/Zuffenhausen - Lancaster - JA857 - F/O AS Thomson
08-Feb-45 - Politz - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
13-Feb-45 - Dresden - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
14-Feb-45 - Chemnitz - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
20-Feb-45 - Dortmund - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
21-Feb-45 - Duisburg - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
23-Feb-45 - Pforzheim - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson
01-Mar-45 - Mannheim - Lancaster - PD272 - F/O AS Thomson - FTR - Crashed near Wieblingen-Plankstadt, Germany
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F/O Alexander Stuart Thomson RAFVR – Pilot - 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of Alexander Stuart Thomson and Elizabeth Isabel Stewart Thomson; husband of Mary Innes Thomson of Kirkhill, Midlothian - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/O Frederick John Brickman RAFVR – Pilot - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Brickman of Richmond Hill, Surrey - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt R C Pain - 103 Sqn – POW – Camp N/K – POW No N/K
P/O John Montgomery Peace RAFVR – Air Bomber - 103 Sqn - Son of Clifford and Christina Peace - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/S William Henry Tromp RAFVR – Navigator - 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of John Percival and Mary Elizabeth Tromp Liverpool - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/S Alan Joseph Crampin RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 20 - 103 Sqn - Son of Joseph and Gertrude M. Crampin of Whitchurch, Hampshire - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/S John Lorn Rochester RCAF ( pictured above )– Air Gunner - 32 - 103 Sqn - Son of J. Lorn Rochester and Gertrude E. Rochester - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/S John William Grice RAAF – Air Gunner - 103 Sqn - Son of Elizabeth Ann Grice of Sandgate, Queensland, Australia - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
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01-Mar-45 – Mannheim
103 Squadron detailed 17 aircraft for this attack on Mannheim. All took off in good weather but on arrival in the target area it was found to be covered in 10/10ths cloud with tops at 8000 ft. All crews on the Master Bombers instructions bombed the blue sky markers but cloud prevented accurate observation of results. Bombing was from between 16500 ft to 19000 ft. Defences were not very active and consisted of some heavy flak in barrage form but no enemy fighters were seen. F/O Thomson is missing from this operation. All the remaining aircraft returned and landed safely at base.
For this attack on Mannheim Bomber Command detailed a total of 478 aircraft - 372 Lancasters, 90 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 6 and 8 Groups. This was Bomber Command's last large-scale raid on the city. 3 Lancasters lost. This was a general attack on the city area. Skymarking was used because of the complete cloud cover. No details of the raid are available.
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Lancaster - PD272
This machine gave good service and was lost on its 41st operation. It was first flown by S/L V G Gane and crew in August 1944. See below :-
25-Aug-44 – Russelheim – Lancaster – PD272 – S/L VG Gane
Item compiled by David Fell. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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