Flying Officer [Air Gunner]

Forrest Harold Thompson

DFM

Awards

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of Waldo Samual and Ethel Annie Thompson, of Waipiro Bay, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Olive Mabel Thompson, of Bedford, England.

References:
  • CWGC
NZ WAR GRAVES
CONTRIBUTED

Biographical Notes:

Forrest Harold Thompson was born on December 15th, 1917 as the son to Waldo Samual and Ethel Annie Thompson and was married to Olive Mabel Thompson. 

He was killed on March 21st, 1945 as Air Gunner with the rank of Flying Officer in Lockheed Hudson, FK803 "MA-N", 161 Squadron, that crashed near Maulusmühle during SOE Operatie Benedict to Germany.

The Pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Terence Helfer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, managed to escape by parachute. The other crew members and three Belgian Secret Agents were killed. The total crew excisted of:
- Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Terence Helfer, 127041 RAFVR;
- Wireless Operator, Flying Officer Raymond Frankish Escreet, 143469 RAFVR, KIA;
- Navigator, Flying Officer Henry Scurr Johnson, 168807 RAFVR, KIA;
- Air Gunner, Flying Officer Forrest Harold Thompson, 412766 RNZAF, KIA;
- Guy José Florent Corbisier, KIA;
- Léon Ghislain de Winter, KIA;
- Jean-Jacques Morel, KIA.

Career:
 Gisborne High School;
 Ruakura Agricultural College;
 Sheep Farmer, Tokomaru Bay;
May 1941: Initial Training Wing, R.N.Z.A.F., Levin;
August 1941: Empire Training Scheme, Canada;
January 1942: No. ? Operational Training Unit, England;
September 1942: No. 218 Squadron;
: Bombing and Gunnery Flight, Warham;
March 1944: No. 161 Squadron.

 

Citation for his DFM:
"Flight Sergeant Thompson, in the capacity of Rear Gunner, has taken part in many operational sorties. His determination, resource and coolness in difficult circumstances have been material factors in the success achieved. On one occasion, when returning from a mining operation, he shot out the lights of a searchlight battery. On other occasions, this airman has made successful machine-gun attacks on enemy trains and an airfield, where fires were started. At all times, he has set a splendid example to the younger members of his crew."

 

Source: For Your Tomorrow and WW2 awards.com

Public Contributions:


Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
412766
Name:
Forrest Harold Thompson
Rank: 
Flying Officer
Additional Rank:
Air Gunner
Date of Birth:
Not known
Next of Kin: 
Waldo Samuel and Ethel Annie Thompson (parents), Waipiro Bay, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Armed Force: 
Air Force
Unit:
Royal New Zealand Air Force, 161 (RAF) Squadron

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Not known
Date of Death:
21 March 1945
Day of Death:
Wednesday
Age at Death: 
27
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
Royal New Zealand Air Force

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
Coll. Grave.
Cemetery Location: 
Luxembourg
Forrest Harold Thompson
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