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Edward Claude Thompson | |||
Rank: | Flt.Sgt | Number: | 415909 |
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No: | 027 O.T.U. RAAF | ||
Name of Rgt or Ship: | Bomber Command | ||
Died: | 03/08/1943 | Age: | 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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