Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal M Thomas

Meredith                      b: 6 Jul 1892                r: 18 Apr 1946                        d: 20 May 1984

CSI - xx xxx 1946  CBE - 1 Jan 1941, DFC - 10 Oct 1922, AFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 19 Apr 1921, MiD - 28 Oct 1921.

(Army): -  2 Dec 1915, (T) Lt:  1 Jun 1917, (T) Capt: 29 Sep 1917.

(RAF): -(T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Capt: xx xxx xxxx,  Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918],  Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1926, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1934,  Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1938, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1940,  Act AVM: 2 Aug 1943 - 22 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, AVM: Retained.

xx xxx 1914:   Soldier, The Queen’s Westminster Rifles.

 2 Dec 1915:   Officer, The Welsh Regiment.

xx Oct 1916:    U/T Pilot, RFC.

 5 May 1917:    Embarked for France

 6 May 1917:     Pilot, No 41 Sqn RFC

30 Sep 1917:   Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn. (FE8, DH5, SE5A – Western Front)

11 Dec 1917:   Returned to Home Establishment

xx xxx xxxx:      Instructor, ?

 7 Aug 1919:   Returned to Home Establishment

14 Aug 1919:   Pilot, No 43 Sqn, Germany.

29 Aug 1919:   Returned to Home Establishment

24 Oct 1919:    Awarded Short Service Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Aeroplane). 

xx xxx 1920:     Awaiting disposal, HQ Mesopotamian Wing.

13 Feb 1920:    Flight Commander, No 6 Sqn. (RE8, Bristol F2B – Mosul)

May/Jun 1921:  Flight Commander, No 30 Sqn. (DH9A – Baghdad)  

 5 Nov 1922:    Supernumerary, RAF depot.

 1 May 1923:    Attended RAF Staff College.

 5 May 1924:    SD 2, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.

 1 Sep 1928:    QFI, RAF (Cadet) College.

 7 Dec 1931:     Placed on half pay list, scale A

24 Dec 1931:   Attended Army Staff College, Quetta.

xx Dec 1933:     Air Staff, HQ RAF India.

xx xxx xxxx:      Returned to Home Establishment

24 May 1937:  Officer Commanding, No 6 Armament Training Camp/Station, Warmwell.

 5 May 1938:    Supernumerary, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

16 May 1938:   SASO, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

 7 Aug 1940:    Director of Technical Training.

24 Dec 1941:   SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.  

 2 Aug 1943:    AOC, No 23 (Training) Group.

 8 Mar 1944:    AOC, AHQ India.

In WW1,by the time he was returned to the home establishment as a instructor he had achieved five confirmed victories.

Recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"THOMAS, Meredith, F/L, AFC

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  During 1921 this officer has flown over 400 hours in Iraq under active service conditions.  In addition to leading many reconnaissances and bomb raids, he has been in command of a detached Flight and has consistently shown a very high standard of courage and power of leadership, which have contributed largely to the success of every operation on which he has been engaged."

Published in the London Gazette as "For distinguished services rendered during active service operations in Iraq during 1920-1921"

(Source – Air 30/49)