C/3555 F/O Douglas Roseberry Thomson, RCAF

[alieneyes1]

Can anybody tell me what aircraft and squadron this man was in when he was taken prisoner at "Tobruk, September 1942"? I had a look at David Gunby's two volumes on Mediterranean bomber losses but no luck.

He was in a POW camp in "northern Italy for 13 months" until the Armistice when he absconded for six days before being caught again.

Transferred to Luft III where he appears in a photograph of all POWs from Manitoba there in mid 1944.

Thanks,

Dave

[Alex Smart]

Hello Dave,
Any idea if he was with a Transport, Fighter or Bomber Squadron ?
A date in September 42 ?

[Icare9]

There's a hit on him in the 1921 Census in Saskatchewan. Birth: 09/12/1911 Winnipeg Manitoba Canada (not that it's much help....)
No 26 in this photo http://aircrewremembered.com/featuredstory.html
(26) Douglas Roseberry Thomson C/3555 of Winnipeg PoW No. 2676.
A photo then arrived of his father taken at Stalag Luft III (Sagan and Belaria).

This has proven most interesting as we have now been able to identify most of the aircrew shown (all from Manitoba, Canada, with the assistance of our 'Paradie Archive') and list briefly details of their loss. We decided to do this as we hope that others who whose relatives are shown on this may come forward and offer their information. Of course Bill has provided us with permission to release a copy of this photograph to relatives who contact us. (presumably that's the photo you refer to?

[alieneyes1]

Hi Alex,

No idea at all. Until a couple of days ago his entry on the AR site had him as "D.P. Thompson". A lot of trawling through the Winnipeg Tribune for his bio. Deceased 1983 in Winnipeg so I'll obtain his service file and see what the circumstances were. Everything I put in quotes was extracted from various editions of the Tribune.

Icare9, indeed that is the photo. I've also seen one taken of all NSW airmen in Luft III.


Dave

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Only mention I can find in the literature:

STALAG LUFT III - PART III: NORTH (OFFICER's) COMPOUND.
RADIO.
(c) MAINTENANCE.

Maintenance and construction done by:

111552 F/Lt J.L. Cooper RAF
FX 76292 P.O. H.G. Cunningham R.N.
A.400367 F/Lt. J.A.R. Gordon R.A.A.F.
42985 F/Lt. T.F. Guest R.A.F.
J.18689 F/O. H.E.Hare R.C.A.F.
--------- Sub.Lt(A) R.B. Long R.N.V.R.
C.3555 F/O. D.P. Thomson R.C.A.F.
106970 F/O. L.N. Vaudin R.A.F.
--------- W.OB. E.S. Wicks R.N.

Many spares were made, but the majority were supplied by 'contacts'. Some were received from I.S.9. When the tunnel 'George' was built, an underground chamber was allotted to the Radio department for maintenance and construction work, as well as operation of one of the receivers.

See:
Stalag Luft III An Official History of the 'Great Escape' PoW Camp.
Barnsley:Frontline Books,2016.
pp.233-6 (Chapter 22 - RADIO).

So were looking for someone with some 'Radio' expertise.

And I couldn't find any mention of Thomson, here:

https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchi...airwar1942.pdf

Col.

[alieneyes1]

Thanks for that, Col.


"Formerly with radio station CKRC here he joined the air force in December 1940"


Dave

[Alex Smart]

From Forces war records.co.UK, see link

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk...r-d-r-thomson/


Archive Reference: WO392/21.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C2581749

this referes to the British National Archives pow details ?
Alex

[alieneyes1]

I guess the hardest aircraft to find is the one he didn't fly.

Captured during commando raid on Tobruk 13 September 1942. GSW right thigh. Operated on in Italian field dressing station outside Tobruk 15 October 1942.

Italian field hospital outside Tobruk: 13 September 1942 to 17 October 1942
Clementina Hospital, Italy: 21 October 1942 to 28 October 1942
Bergamo Hospital, Italy: 29 October 1942 to 8 February 1943
PG 78/3300, Sulmona, Italy: 11 February 1943 to 12 September 1943
Sulmona, Italy "under German domination" "disorganized" 18 September 1943 to 3 October 1943

12 September 1943: "Italians left guard positions due to capitulation. Walked out of PG 78 into Apennine Mountains. Recaptured by German scouting party on top of Mt Amano who had seen me by field glass from neighbouring mountain. Informed by them I had only to go down the north side and east to Allied lines!"

Stalag VIIA, Moosburg: 6 October 1943 to 13 October 1943
Stalag Luft III, Sagan: 15 October 1943 to 27 January 1945
Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke: 10 February 1945 to 10 April 1945

Liberated 2 May 1945.


Regards,


Dave

[Russell]

A silly question,

Was he flying for sure or was he with the commandos?

[alieneyes1]

Can't answer that question yet, Russell.

The information I posted earlier today came from the man's 1953 POW compensation award from the Canadian government. I don't have his service file as yet.

But I would suspect "commando" given this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Agreement

Regards,

Dave