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An American Volunteer with the Royal Flying Corp


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On a warm afternoon June 12, 1918 while reclining in a wicker chair at his airfield near Clairmarais, France, Lt. Thomson took time to write his fiancé Ruth Sanders a letter explaining that he “was waiting on the shout of the klaxon horn as an order to go over to the war”. He wrote that he was eager to get this evenings patrol over with as he and the men of his squadron were to celebrate that night the good news that the gunnery officer’s wife had just given birth to a new son. Little did he know that instead of champagne and caviar with his mess mates he would be dining on black bread and beer as a guest of the Kaiser.

 

"Tommy" was born on June 12, 1892 in Craig, Missouri an eldest child and first born. “Frank” as he was called by his parents grew up in Craig and enjoyed a comfortable childhood. He graduated from Craig High School, attended Evanston Academy prep school in Evanston, Illinois and then enrolled in Northwestern University majoring in journalism. It was there that Thomson met and fell in love with the young woman that would some day become his wife.

 

After graduating in the Class of 1914, Thomson first worked as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago News-Index. By 1917 Tommy was working as a press agent in Boston, Massachusetts for Filene’s Department Store. It was while living at 224 Milk Street in Boston, that Tommy received the news that the United States had declared war with Imperial Germany. Thomson along with thousands of others rushed to the recruiting stations to enlist, but to his disappointment Thomson was turned down by every branch of the US Military, having been declared physically unfit due to a childhood heart aliment. Tommy cast about looking for some means of service and had about resigned himself to service with the YMCA when he encountered a British recruiting mission and inquired if Americans could enlist. He was assured that if he could pass the physical there would be no problem. Apparently the requirements of the British Empire were not as stringent as Uncle Sam’s for before he knew it, Thomson found himself onboard a train heading north to Canada to “Serve King and Country” as a cadet in the Royal Flying Corp. After successfully completing his training and receiving his commission, Thomson sailed for England in the early spring of 1918. He then finished his flight training and was assigned as a replacement pursuit pilot with the famous 74 Squadron.

 

In the annals of British aviation 74 Squadron was known as one of the hardest fighting squadrons in the B.E.F. It hosted a series of pilots whose names ring out in the pantheon of WWI aviators. Eddie “Mick” Mannock , Harris “Clem” Clements, “Swazi” Howe, “Zulu” Savage, Sidney “Timbertoes” Carlin who had a wooden leg from a wound while fighting in the trenches, Keith “Grid” Caldwell and Ira “Taffy” Jones to name a few. With the well earned nickname of the “Tiger Squadron”, 74 with its SE5a aircraft was a plumb assignment for young Lt. Thomson.

 

 

Thomson arrived at 74 on May 19, 1918 and noted the relaxed atmosphere and wrote to Ruth that his flight commander (Mannock) sometimes flew early missions while wearing his pajamas under his flight suit. Tommy quickly fell into the routine and began going on several patrols each day. On June 12th he, along with two other pilots, “Clem” Clements and “Swazi” Howe left their aerodrome at 7:30 PM heading south towards Armentieres. Thomson noted later that he was flying a borrowed plane as his had been damaged by a pilot from another squadron who accidentally landed on his aircraft while coming in for a night landing. Tommy soon discovered that this borrowed plane was not up to snuff and he began to have difficulty maintaining his place in the formation. Unknown to his comrades Tommy fell behind and was on the verge of turning for home when they were attacked by a formation of seven German Pfalz fighters. Tommy was quickly cut off and in his words the enemy tracers flew past him like “ribbons”. A young German pilot from Hofstetten, Bavaria named Josef Schafer flying for Jasta 16 fired a stream of bullets that pierced the engine of the SE5a that was in his sights and he saw the plane roll over and go into a spin. Tommy describes the incident as happening so fast it was hard to realize what had happened. He was able to level his plane out just before it crashed and after it smashed into a tangle of barb wire and flipped over, he found himself hanging upside down over a shell hole and he was drenched in gasoline. Tommy unbuckled his safety strap, dropped down and crawled out from underneath the wreckage just in time to look up to see two enemy aircraft diving down on him. At first he thought they were going to strafe him, but they waggled their wings and waved goodbye before they zoomed back up to join their comrades. As Tommy stood there more chagrined than hurt, a German medic approached to ask him “Ist Sie Krank? (Are you sick?) Thus began Tommy’s nine months of incarceration as a Prisoner of War.

 

To be continued,,,,,

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Croix de Guerre
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Tommy's RFC tunic, his green RAF tunic, his overseas cap, his officers visor cap and his souvenir french kepi (more on it later)

 

PS The RFC cuff-rank tunic is the one he was wearing June 12, 1918 when he was shot down.

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Croix de Guerre
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The Hun that shot down Tommy posed in his Pfalz airplane. Lt. Josef Johann Schaffer of Jasta 16. Tommy was Schaffer's first victory and he went on to get two more for a total of three confirmed.

 

12 June, 1918 - SE5a south of Bailleul (Thomson POW)

2 July, 1918 - Bristol F.2b, Zandvoorde (2nd Lt. P.G. Jones KIA, Lt. Traill POW)

10 October, 1918 - R.E.8, West of Ypres

 

Schaffer was shot down and killed in Flanders October 10, 1918 the same day he scored his third victory. Schafffer is buried in Krefeld Cemetery, Germany.

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Croix de Guerre
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The Hun that shot down Tommy posed in his Pfalz airplane. Lt. Josef Johann Schaffer of Jasta 16. Tommy was Schaffer first victory and he went on to get two more for a total of three confirmed. Schaffer was shot down and killed in Flanders October 10, 1918 the same day he scored his third victory. Schafffer is buried in Krefeld Cemetery.

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CdG, thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

 

Amazing group! Look forward to seeing more!

 

 

 

However, your avatar is a little disturbing. I think I prefer Mr.Bean's ancestor who served in the trenches.

 

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Croix de Guerre
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Cadet Thomson taken while training at Fort Worth, Texas in the Winter of 1917.

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Croix de Guerre
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"Don't I look heavy"? "I weigh 140 lbs." - Fort Worth, Texas 1917

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Croix de Guerre
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November 10, 1917 - Taken while training in Texas

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Croix de Guerre
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November 10, 1917 - Taken while training in Texas

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Croix de Guerre
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On furlough at home in Craig, Missouri with his brother James after graduating training school - January 1918

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Croix de Guerre
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Taken either in England or at 74 Squadron in France 1918 - Thomson is standing on the left

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CdG - Now, we know 'The Rest of the Story" of these previously posted, but not identified, beautiful Brit Flying Corps uniforms worn by an American flying in France, and in captivity! And a wonderful story it is..... thumbsup.gif Congrats on a great historical find! Look forward to seeing more.

Bobgee

Posted
CdG - Now, we know 'The Rest of the Story" of these previously posted, but not identified, beautiful Brit Flying Corps uniforms worn by an American flying in France, and in captivity! And a wonderful story it is..... thumbsup.gif Congrats on a great historical find! Look forward to seeing more.

Bobgee

 

Bob, There is a Paul Harvey line that goes something like "the rest of the story" - There is also another line like "you ain't seen nothing yet" - This forum at some point in the near future will know the "rest of the story" about Thompson. I think the forum will appreciate Croix's efforts here. - Stay tuned!!

 

Dennis

teufelhunde.ret
Posted
Bob, There is a Paul Harvey line that goes something like "the rest of the story" - There is also another line like "you ain't seen nothing yet" - This forum at some point in the near future will know the "rest of the story" about Thompson. I think the forum will appreciate Croix's efforts here. - Stay tuned!!

 

Dennis

 

Wonderful story here - looking forward to the rest of the story!

Croix de Guerre
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Apparently my choice of a new avatar was a bit too "busy" so I went with a less distracting one instead! :lol:

Posted

Simply amazing!! Wow, now that is museum quality. Thanks for sharing!

 

-Ski

Croix de Guerre
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The letter Tommy wrote and posted on June 12, 1918 while waiting to go on patrol. It would be the last letter to his fiance Ruth during the war as a free man.

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Croix de Guerre
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The letter written the next day by Thomson's commanding officer Keith Caldwell, informing Thomson's father that his son was missing from patrol.

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Croix de Guerre
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A copy from the British Archives of the actual after action report of Thomson's downing.

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