The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J R Thompson

James Robert Thompson was born in Aston, Birmingham on 14th September 1917, the son of James Summer Thompson and Lilian Gertrude Thompson.

He joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Aircrew.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and joined 236 Squadron in mid-August 1940, serving for the rest of the Battle.

He was killed on 10th March 1941 aged 24 as a Sergeant with 272 Squadron. Blenheim IV Z5752 XK*L took off from Aldergrove on a convoy escort but went out of sight of other aircraft in the flight when the weather became very bad. No trace of it was found.

P/O AAL van Wayenberghe and Sgt. DI McWatt were also lost. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Thompson on panel 53.

On this sortie Blenheim IV Z5733 XK*E also disappeared with Sgt. PGV Chanler, Sgt. HK Pass and Sgt. WA Newton.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.