Thomas, John Bullfinch
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John Bullfinch |
Surname | Thomas |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-06-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert and Johanna Thomas, of Perth, Western Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | NN799 |
Markings | AR-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Plevenon Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 1. |
Epitaph | HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. CHERISHED MEMORIES |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | SP |
Panel Number | 272 (not yet erected on site) |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 16696 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 460 (Australian) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who served at Breighton during WW2, including 460 Sqn RAAF |
Location | Junction of Kirmond Rd (B1203) & Orford Rd, Binbrook, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 460 Sqn RAAF which operated from Breighton and Binbrook 1941-1945 |
Location | Church of St. Mary & St. Gabriel, Binbrook, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 460 Sqn RAAF which served at Binbrook between 1941 and 1945 |
Location | Former ATC Signals Square, Brookenby Industrial Estate, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorials to the aircrew and groundcrew of 460 Sqn RAAF who served at Brookenby, 1942-1943 |
Location | Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Brookenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorials to the aircrew and groundcrew of 460 Sqn RAAF who served at Brookenby, 1942-1943 |
Miscellaneous Information
In a report on the flight the Captain of the aircraft stated : “The homeward route was from St Etienne to St Malo, France, and thence from 1.5 miles north of St Malo to position 48.54N, 01.38W. Throughout the flight I had been in R/T contact with all the crew including the Rear Gunner Flt Sgt Thomas. I had spoken to Flt Sgt Thomas within about 10 minutes of reaching St Malo. After turning at St Malo the aircraft dived steeply for 4000 feet (from 11,000 to 7,000 feet) due in my opinion to a fault in the automatic pilot which was engaged at the time. I disengaged the automatic pilot and pulled the aircraft out of the dive. This all happened in a few minutes and there was apparently no cause for alarm at the time. I was sure that Flt Sgt Thomas said ‘what happened then’ to me at this time, and I replied that it was ‘all right now’. I had no further contact with him throughout the rest of the flight to base (Ht7000 feet – 2000 feet), and was not aware that he had baled out until we landed. The incident of the aircraft diving was the only possible cause that Flt Sgt Thomas could have had for alarm so I assume that he baled out at that time, 0229 hours 5/6/45, position 48.52N 01.55W.” |
What few sources reference the loss of F/S Thomas generally state, incorrectly, that he was aboard MN799, which was in fact a Typhoon. This error stems from the Squadron Operations Record Book, which also quotes the aircraft as being MN799. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-06-1945 |
End Date | 05-06-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Binbrook |
Day/Night Raid | Night (34% moon) |
Operation | Training- night cross-country exercise over France and the English Channel |
Reason for Loss | Inexplicably bailed out of the aircraft and was lost over the sea. His body washed ashore on 27th July 1945 near to the village of Plevenon, Dept. Côtes-du-Nord, France. The aircraft otherwise made a safe return to base without further injury. |