Sale WW2 

Edward Claude Thompson

Rank:Flt.SgtNumber:415909
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:027 O.T.U. RAAF
Name of Rgt or Ship:Bomber Command
Died:03/08/1943Age:21
How Died:Accidental
Country of burial:U.K.Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Chester (Blacon) Cemetery
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
See my book - "The Walton Park Wimpy", that details the Wellington Bomber
which crashed in Walton Park, Sale on the night of the 3rd August 1943.  
Two Australian airmen were killed in this accident, one of whom was Edward
Claude Thompson.

"Claude" as he was better known, but also called "snow" on account of his
blond hair, was born in Narrogin, Western Australia on 1st February 1922,
the son of Claude Thompson and Maude Thompson.   He resided at 6 Falcon
Styreet, Narrogin, Western Australia and enlisted in the City of Perth,
Western Australia, soon after travelling to England to serve with the
R.A.A.F.

Claude, enrolled on 27 O.T.U. Training Course No. 42 on the 8th June 1943,
coming from 9 (O) A.F.U. (Advanced Flying Unit for Observers - which
included Air Bombers), which was stationed at Penrhos, Caernarvonshire, on
the Lleyn Peninsular, North Wales.

Being the bomb aimer, Claude would have been in the most vulnerable
position for a crash landing, particularly on this occasion as he was
probably in bomb laying position on the floor of the aircraft, helping to
guide the pilot through the blacked out conditions to a clear landing
site.

I am reasonably sure that Claude was the person that was trapped under the
nose of the aircraft and was pulled clear by Frank Worrell and Eric
Meacham.   His first thoughts were for his pal. "Where's Freddie?" he
asked. "Have you got him out yet?"    Sadly Claude died in the ambulance on
the way to Altrincham General Hospital.

  
 
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