LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Eric Teulon THOMPSON
Service No: 404069
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 29 September 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 April 1940
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A789), Libya, 31 May 1942, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Joseph and Emily Marcia Thompson; husband of Lorna Caroline Thompson, of Clayfield, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Column 263, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Brother of Flight Lieutenant Charles Keith Teulon Thompson (404066), No. 450 Squadron – Prisoner of War, Italy: 23 February 1942, Discharged from the RAAF: 23 October 1945
During the whole of 29th and 30th May targets were ideal for both fighters and bombers, which carried out a shuttle service devoted entirely to ground attacks. On two occasions the army reported that more than fifty enemy vehicles had been left burning after attacks by fighter bombers, which were enjoying outstanding success. By 31st May, when the enemy was apparently attempting to withdraw completely, fighter bombers were ordered to revert to their normal duties to prevent high wastage of Kittyhawks, for which there were few replacements. During this five-day period of intensive effort the RAF appeared to have won the first round of the battle, and morale rose high, especially in No. 239 Wing which had more than fulfilled its planned role as an attacking spearhead. No. 3 lost only two pilots through the hazards of low-level attack against static defences, while No. 450 lost one pilot killed (another pilot died in an aircraft accident) and four missing during fairly even battles with enemy aircraft, five of which were claimed as destroyed.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 234
On 31 May 1942, Kittyhawk A789 was one of ten aircraft detailed to provide top cover for fighter bombers operating in the EI Adam area. When the action was about 10 miles from El Adam, the top cover was ordered to orbit base. About 10 miles west of El Adam four Kittyhawks were seen above the man formation, which turned to attack two enemy aircraft diving towards the Kittyhawks. In the ensuing encounter, one Kittyhawk was seen shot down, and later another Kittyhawk was seen to spin in. A789 failed to return to base.
No. 450 Squadron lost:
Sergeant John Nicholson Dean (402936) Killed 29 May 1942
Sergeant Henry William Devlin (401108) Killed (Crashed on takeoff): 29 May 1942
Flight Sergeant Thomas Edwin Packer (407453) Killed 29 May 1942
Pilot Officer Raymond Shaw (402139) Killed 29 May 1942
Flight Sergeant Ian Arthur Nursey (402389) Killed 30 May 1942
Flight Lieutenant Eric Teulon Thompson (404069) Killed: 31 May 1942
No. 3 Squadron lost:
Sergeant Colin Shaw MacDiarmid (404345) Killed 30 May 1942
Sergeant (later Squadron Leader) Andrew William Barr MC DFC & Bar (250774) Shot down 30 May 1942, evaded capture, Discharged from the RAAF: 8 October 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9300, Thompson E T
Bibliography:
Brown, R. (Russell) Desert Warriors Australian P-40 Pilots at War in the Middle East and North Africa 1941-1943, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4652, 2000
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002