Thompson, John Willard
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | John Willard |
Surname | Thompson |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-02-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of John William Thompson and Isabel Bearisto Thompson (née McNeill), of Bowden, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Consolidated Liberator VI |
Serial Number | TS520 |
Markings | 6G-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Venray War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | VII. E. 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 253 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/38084 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 100 |
Squadron | 223 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Andrew's Church, Blickling, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Wooden Case containing RAF Oulton Roll of Honour & former 18 (B) Sqn Standard |
Memorial Text | In memory of R.A.F. Oulton 1940 - 1945 |
Location | Junction of Aylsham Rd & New Rd, Oulton Street, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick piller and Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the men and women of the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. based here 1940 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
John was born on 4 February 1924 at Bowden, Alberta. His father was a farmer and both parents were born at Prince Edward Island. He had two sisters Elizabeth and Nina and brothers William, Angus, James and Preston. A fifth brother, Bruce, born 1906 had sadly died in 1913. He attended school at Buffalo Creek 1929-1937 followed by Bowden School, Innisfail, 1937-1942 (Snr. Matric). The sports he joined in were softball, volleyball, basketball and table tennis and his hobby the study of aeroplanes and flight. |
John enlisted on 1 July 1942 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Halifax on 25 June 1944 and arrived at 3PRC on 4 July 1944. He then proceeded to 223 Squadron on 29 August 1944. Sadly John then lost his life on 21 February 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1376/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1376/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-02-1945 |
End Date | 21-02-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Oulton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (68% moon) |
Operation | Bomber Support- to deploy Window |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed SE of Dortmund |