Thomas, Peter Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Peter Alfred |
Surname | Thomas |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 23-12-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Alfred Nicholas and Dorothea May Thomas, of North Cheam, Surrey. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | PB523 |
Markings | 6O-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6. D. 21. |
Epitaph | IN MOST SINCERE, EVERLASTING AND LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF OUR OWN DEAREST PETER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 252 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 172593 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 582 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Zandbergstraat, Opitter (Bree), Limburg Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Sculptured metal cross, religious figurines & inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to former Airfield Site, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to RAF Little Staughton, including 109 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | In memory of 109 and 582 Sqns. At R.A.F. Little Staughton |
Miscellaneous Information
His parachute canopy collapsed after making good his escape from the aircraft. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/18 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-12-1944 |
End Date | 23-12-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Little Staughton |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Köln- to attack the Gremberg railway yards. This raid went badly wrong. The force was split into three formations, each led by an Oboe equipped master and a similarly equipped Mosquito reserve master. Improved weather meant that the crews could bomb visually and the order was given. Tragically, the order did not reach S/L R A M Palmer's aircraft and they carried on unawares, being hit by flak on their approach but dropping their bomb load nonetheless. Soon afterwards they were set about by fighters and the aircraft was downed in the target area. S/L Palmer was posthumously awarded a VC for his valour. |
Reason for Loss | Thought to have crashed at Opitter, Belgium although it is likely that some baled out over Germany |