LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Ernest THOMPSON
Service No: 426709
Born: Toogoolawah QLD, 16 May 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 July 1942
Unit: No. 466 Squadron, RAF Station Driffield, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 466 Squadron Halifax aircraft MZ299), Germany, 15 October 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur Wright Thompson and Ethel Hollis Gertrude Thompson, of Norman Park, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 110, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Date: 15-16 October 1944
Target: Wilhelmshaven
Total Force: Dispatched – 506, Attacking – 492
RAAF Force: No. No. 460 Dispatched – 5, Attacking – 5; No. 462 Dispatched – 9, Attacking -8; No. 466 Dispatched – 11, Attacking – 10
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 2,136
Total Aircraft Lost: 7
RAAF Aircraft Lost: No. 467 – 1
A force of 506 aircraft made a night raid on 15th-16th October when RAAF crews from Nos. 460, 462 and 466 made only cautious claims of bombing accuracy. In fact heavy damage had been achieved, evenly distributed through the built-up areas but mainly affecting civilian dwellings, public buildings and public utilities.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 309
Halifax MZ299 took off from RAF Driffield at 1742 hours on the night of 15/16th October 1944 to bomb Wilhelshaven, Germany. Eleven aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and all returned except MZ299. Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed at Jackstede some 7kms west south west from the centre of Wittmund. Germany. Six of the crew members were killed and Sergeant Kemp survived the crash.
The crew members of MZ299 were:
Flight Sergeant George William Dawson (1875339) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Harvey Roy Harris (1581276) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant T W N Kemp (1605894) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW
Flying Officer Albert Henry Munroe (426647) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer William Stones (182631) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Ernest Thompson (426709) (Bomb Aimer)
Pilot Officer Tasman Leonard Williams (408462) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/39/374