The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. W W Thompson

William Watson Thompson was born on 20th December 1915 in Shrewsbury and joined the RAF in November 1935 as an Aircrafthand. He applied to train as a Wireless Operator but there were no vacancies so he trained as an armourer.

He married Irene May Sheppard on 20th November 1937 at All Souls, Eastbourne.

Above image courtesy of photo Jay Neill.

He later applied for pilot training, was selected and after qualifying was posted to the Armament School at Catfoss as a staff pilot.

On 8th December 1939 Thompson joined 219 Squadron at Redhill. He went on to 603 Squadron at Prestwick on 18th December 1939.

It would appear that he converted to Spitfires while on the squadron. On 13th January 1940 Thompson undershot when landing in bad visibility at Prestwick in Spitfire L1070. He was unhurt and the aircraft was repairable.

On 22nd March 1940 Thompson joined 234 Squadron at Leconfield. On 31st July he crashed on landing at St. Eval after a routine night patrol in Spitfire P9365. Thompson had crashed into a stone wall and was badly injured. He was admitted to the Royal Cornish Infirmary.

Thompson did not fly again. He was commissioned in the Technical Branch (Armament) in May 1942 and finished his service in the RAF as an Armament Officer.

He was released in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Thompson died on 28th July 1986 in Hailsham.