The Airmen's Stories - P/O T F Guest

Thomas Francis Guest, of Frenchay House, Bristol was born on 28th June 1918 in Warrington and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gloucester Regiment (TA) on 2nd December 1936.

His civilian occupation was recorded as 'Tanner'.

On 1st November 1938 the battalion received the sub-title (66th Searchlight Regiment) on conversion to the searchlight role.

Guest was seconded to the RAF on 7th March 1940 and commissioned. Seconded Army officers were intended for Army co-operation duties.

56 Squadron, probably late 1940 - (L to R) Sgt. PEM Robinson, Sgt. P Hillwood, P/O JJ Himr, P/O BJ Wicks, F/O IB Westmacott, Sgt. Myall, F/Lt. EJ Gracie, P/O GG Bailey, P/O M Constable Maxwell, P/O Wyatt, Sgt. N Doniger, P/O TF Guest, P/O RFFG Malengreau, P/O FW Higginson, S/Ldr. HM Pinfold.

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He was posted to 8 FTS Montrose for No. 19 Course, which ran from 6th May to 12th August 1940. With that completed, Guest went to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation, Old Sarum for No. 14 Course, due to end on 7th September.

However he was posted to 5 OTU Aston Down on 2nd September and after converting to Hurricanes he joined 79 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 17th September.

He moved to 56 Squadron at Boscombe Down on 15th October. Guest claimed a Me109 destroyed on 6th November 1940

On 23rd November 1940, in Hurricane P2910, he collided with Sgt. W Szafraniec during a formation practice near Middle Wallop. Szafraniec, in Hurricane V7569, was killed. Guest survived unhurt.

Guest was still serving with 56 Squadron when he was shot down by JG51 over the French coast in Hurricane IIA Z2763 on 26th April 1941.

He was taken prisoner, processed through Dulag Luft and Stalag Luft I at Barth before ending up in Stalag Luft III at Sagan.

He was 'Head Tailor' at the camp, providing German military uniforms and civilian clothes for various escape enterprises, including the Great Escape in 1944.

Guest was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.