D L Thomson

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Commodore D L Thomson (16102)

Donald Leslie b: 19 Oct 1903 r: 29 Sep 1955 d: 5 Jan 1973

DSO - 22 Sep 1944, DFC - 30 Oct 1942, MiD - 8 Jun 1944, MiD – 1 Jan 1946.

Plt Off: 15 Aug 1923, Fg Off: 15 Feb 1925, Flt Lt: 29 May 1929, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1936, (T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1940, Act (unp) Gp Capt: 24 Apr 1941, Act Gp Capt: 18 Oct 1941, Wg Cdr (WS): 24 Oct 1941, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Dec 1941, Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], Act A/Cdre: 19 Oct 1944 - 1 Aug 1945, Gp Capt (WS): 19 Apr 1945, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946 - 1 Nov 1947, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1946, Act A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1947 - 23 Mar 1948, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1953.

14 Sep 1921: Flight Cadet, 'B' Sqn, RAF College.

15 Aug 1923: U/T Pilot, No 39 Sqn (Spittlegate) (arrived 15 Sep 1923)

18 Dec 1923: Granted authority to wear Flying Badge

27 Nov 1924: Pilot, No 60 Sqn (DH9A - Risalpur)

27 Nov 1924 - 2 Jan 1925: In transit to India on HMT Glengorm Castle

1 Nov 1928: Test Pilot, Air Park, India

18 Nov 1928: Temporary duty, No 60 Sqn

11 Dec 1928: Test Pilot, Air Park, India

12 Feb 1929: Chief Test Pilot, Aircraft Depot, India.

9 Nov 1929: Flight Commander, No 111 Sqn. (arrived on 1 Feb 1930)

9 - 30 Nov 1929: In transit to the on HMT Nevasa

28 Apr - 17 May 1933: Attended Instrument Flying Course (Pass - Above Average)

24 Sep - 23 Dec 1933: Attended Air Pilotage Course (Pass - 84%)

25 Jun 1934: Adjutant/Flying Instructor, No 608 (North Riding) Sqn AuxAF.

5 Mar 1935: Supernumerary - non effective (sick), RAF Depot.

5 Aug 1925: Supernumerary, RAF Depot for temporary duty

16 Dec 1935: Flying Instructor, Advanced Training Sqn, No 5 FTS.

4 Jan 1937: Administrative duties, No 9 FTS.

24 Sep 1938: Attached, No 90 Sqn for Blenheim Conversion Course

25 Oct 1938: Supernumerary, No 84 Sqn.

21 Nov 1938: Officer Commanding, No 84 Sqn.

28 Jan 1940: Personnel Staff Officer, HQ British Forces in Iraq.

12 Mar 1940: Supernumerary, RAF Basrah

19 Mar 1940: Officer Commanding, RAF Basrah

24 Dec 1941: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot (leave until 3 Mar 1942)

3 Mar 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Chelveston

10 Apr 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Snaith

17 Nov 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Dishforth

19 Dec 1942: Supernumerary, RAF Marston Moor

21 Dec 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Marston Moor

30 Mar 1943: Officer Commanding, Sub station Melbourne

9 - 22 Aug 1944 Acting Base Commander, No 44 Base

12 Oct 1944: Officer Commanding, RAF Melbourne

19 Oct 1944: Base Commander, No 44 Base, RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor

22 May 1945: Base Commander, No 32 Base, RAF Mildenhall

1 Aug 1945: Supernumerary, HQ Bomber Command

20 Aug 1945: Supernumerary, No 2 Wing, No 9 PDC

23 Aug 1945: Staff, HQ Middle East

15 Sep 1945: SASO, AHQ Levant.

22 Apr 1946: SASO, AHQ RAF Italy

12 Jun 1946: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (Disembarkation leave 15 - 28 Jun 1946)

8 Aug 1946: SASO, HQ, No 219 Group

1 Dec 1946: SASO, No 205 Group

10 Feb 1948: Supernumerary, No 5 PDC (Disembarkation leave 21 Feb - 22 Mar 1948)

23 Mar 1948: Supernumerary, RAF Hereford

5 Apr 1948: Officer Commanding, RAF Hereford

11 Jul 1950: Officer Commanding, RAF Mildenhall

1 Oct 1951: Temporary duty, HQ Transport Command

25 Oct 1951: Supernumerary, HQ, No 3 Group

7 Jan 1952: Supernumerary (pending posting), HQ RAF Flying College, Manby

11 Feb 1952: Officer Commanding RAF Manby

16 Feb 1953: Supernumerary, HQ No 61 (Eastern) Group.

23 Feb 1953: SASO, HQ No 61 (Eastern) Group.

1 Sep 1955: Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit (pending retirement)

In the competitive selection tests for entry into Cranwell, held in mid 1921, he achieved a score of 6,761. He attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl at Cranwell. He died in the Kensington area.

He was admitted to hospital in India on two occasions in 1925 and in 1932 was given another 28 days sick leave, but in August 1935, he was involved in an accident whilst off duty which rendered him unfit for flying or for limited flying duties until November 1936.

On 17 April 1951, he was flying Spitfire F Mk 16, TE441 of No 1689 Flight which suffered a power failure whilst he was executing a slow roll, requiring him to make a forced landing near RAF Hereford. Injured in this accident, he did not return to duty for a month but it was July before he was passed fully fit for flying duties. In 1953, he suffered from an unknown complaint (his records are redacted), which ended his flying career and he was limited to flying as a non-combatant passenger only and then in 1955, two months before retiring, this was further restricted to no flying above 10,000 ft.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“Group Captain Donald Leslie THOMSON.

Group Captain Thomson has participated recently in several bombing sorties, all of which were successful. He is a most inspiring leader whose skill has contributed materially to the high standard of efficiency of the unit which he commands.”

(London Gazette – 30 October 1942)

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.

Group Captain Donald Leslie THOMSON, D.F.C., R.A.F.

Group Captain Thomson has completed numerous sorties including attacks against the most heavily defended German, targets. He has displayed excellent qualities of leadership and his perfect example of coolness and cheerful courage has been an inspiration to his squadron."

(London Gazette - 22 September 1944)

Citation for the award of a Mention in Despatches

"THOMSON, Donald Leslie, G/C, DSO, DFC (16102, Royal Air Force) - No.32 Base, Bomber Command.

This officer formerly served in Iraq. Since his return from that country he has commanded successively four operational stations and has carried out the duties of Base Commander since October 1944. He has displayed zeal and energy and has shown himself to be a capable and efficient officer."

(Source - Air 2/9121)

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