Thompson, William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | William |
Surname | Thompson |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Isabella Thompson, of Auchterarder, Perthshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW597 |
Markings | QO-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. D. 27. |
Epitaph | AS DAYS GO ON AND YEARS PASS BY, LOVING MEMORIES NEVER DIE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 253 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1553058 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 432 (Leaside) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-02-1944 |
End Date | 26-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (6% moon) |
Operation | Augsburg. 594 aircraft, 21 losses (3.6%) although at least four were Lost due to collision. A highly successful raid in clear weather conditions with more than 2000 tons of bombs being dropped. This was another two-wave raid after the success of the Schweinfurt raid the previous night. This raid was controversial because it completely destroyed the beautiful old town and, due to the very high concentration, very little damage to the industrial areas that one might have expected to be the target. Approximately 3000 houses were destroyed and 85000+ people were bombed out of their homes. It was exceptionally cold and as a result the River Lech was frozen over, limiting the supply of water to fight the many large fires that resulted from the bombing. Of particular note was the loss of works of art, which local reports put at an astonishing 800 million Reichmarks. The Germans were quick to condemn this raid in the media and coined the phrase 'terror bombing'. Bombing during the second wave did spread to the suburbs and an important aircraft component factory and the M.A.N. factory were damaged. |
Reason for Loss | Attacked at 22000' by a night-fighter and crashed, on fire, near Ulm |