Thompson, George Welland
Personal Information
Rank | WO2 |
Forename(s) | George Welland |
Surname | Thompson |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Date of Death | 09-10-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Cephas B. Thompson and Alice Mae Thompson (née Mitchell), of Melville, Saskatchewan. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | LN451 |
Markings | QO-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 2. B. 8-12. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 253 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/146160 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 432 (Leaside) |
Squadron Motto | Saeviter ad lucem (Ferociously towards the light) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Thompson River, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | River |
Memorial Text |
Miscellaneous Information
The last Wellington to be Lost in main force operations |
George was born on 11 December 1922 at Melville, Saskatchewan. His father was born in Elisborough, Saskatchewan and was a jeweller, his mother born in Thesslyn, Ontario. He attended Melville Public School 1929-1937 and Melville High School 1937-1941 General Normal Course and one supplementary Senior Matric.(Literature). He worked at the American Can Co.Ltd., Vancouver, as a machine operator from July to December 1941 when he left to enlist in the RCAF on 18 December 1941. |
George’s hobbies were photography, music and art and the sports he was involved with were rugby, football, baseball, hockey and tennis. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-10-1943 |
End Date | 09-10-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (74% moon) |
Operation | Hanover. 504 aircraft and the last to include Wellingtons, none of which were Lost 27 Lancasters and Halifaxes were Lost (5.4%). The Germans had correctly assumed that Hanover was the target and there was much night-fighter activity as a result. The conditions were clear and both marking and the subsequent bombing were accurate and concentrated, with little creepback. The electrical, water and telephone services were destroyed in what was Hanover's worst attack of the war. An impressive marshalling regime on the ground concentrated the public into areas between the fires, saving many lives. Even so, 1200 people were killed and 3345 injured. almost 4000 buildings were destroyed amongst which were the Continental rubber factory and Hanomag machine works. |