The Airmen's Stories - P/O A R F Thompson

Antony Robert Fletcher Thompson was born on 14th October 1920. He joined the RAFVR about July 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 15 EFTS and 5 FTS Sealand and arrived at 6 OTU on 10th September 1940.

After converting to Hurricanes he joined 85 Squadron at Church Fenton on the 29th and moved to 249 Squadron at North Weald on 17th October. Thompson shared in the destruction of a Ju88 on 28th October and destroyed a Me109 on the 30th.

In May 1941 249 went to Malta and flew off HMS Ark Royal in two groups on the 21st. On 5th August Thompson joined the Malta Night Fighting Unit, then being formed at Ta Kali. He damaged a BR20 at night on 11th November. The unit became 1435 (Night Fighter) Flight on 2nd December.

Thompson was posted to 71 OTU at Gordon's Tree, Sudan on 3rd March 1942. He returned to operations on 1st October, joining 73 Squadron in the Western Desert. In mid-November he was appointed 'A' Flight Commander.

At the end of December Thompson was posted to Cairo and in February he went to 206 Group, as a test pilot.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 23rd March 1943).

On 10th March 1944 Thompson was seconded to BOAC and released from the RAF in Cairo on 26th January 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

The next day he joined BOAC as a Captain, going on to retire from British Airways on 14th October 1975.

Thompson died on 9th March 2008.