George Thompson

Rescued two gunners from flames in a stricken RAF Lancaster.

George Thompson was born on 23 October 1920 at Borestone Cottage in Trinity Gask, Perthshire, the son of a ploughman. Educated at Portmoak Public School and Kinross Higher Grades School, he completed a grocery apprenticeship in Kinross before entering military service. His interest in wireless sets would become the basis of his RAF career.

Thompson joined the Local Defence Volunteers and applied to the RAF in 1940, initially receiving deferred service. After an unsuccessful aircrew selection interview, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as ground crew on 10 January 1941. He trained in the wireless trade, served briefly at RAF Coningsby, and was posted to Iraq in February 1942. After eighteen months overseas, a further application for flying duties succeeded. He returned to England in August 1943 and retrained as an aircrew wireless operator, becoming a sergeant.

In May 1944 he joined No. 14 Operational Training Unit at Market Harborough, where he became part of Flying Officer Harry Denton's bomber crew. Following crew training and conversion to heavy bombers, they joined No. 9 Squadron at RAF Bardney, Lincolnshire, in September. Thompson's first operational sortie was against Bremen on 6 October 1944. He was promoted to flight sergeant in November.

On 1 January 1945, Thompson was the wireless operator aboard Lancaster PD377 during a daylight attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. After its bombs were released, shellfire tore into the aircraft, starting fires, wrecking the nose and opening a large hole in the fuselage floor. The intercommunication system failed.

Seeing the mid-upper gunner unconscious in his burning turret, Thompson crossed the damaged fuselage through flames and exploding ammunition. He pulled the gunner free, carried him clear of the fire and extinguished his burning clothing with his bare hands, suffering severe burns himself. He then reached the rear turret and rescued its helpless gunner, again beating out burning clothing with his already injured hands.

Almost exhausted, Thompson made his way back to the cockpit to report on his comrades. The cold air entering the shattered aircraft added frostbite to his burns. His injuries were so severe that Denton did not recognise him. About forty minutes after the aircraft was hit, its pilot crash-landed in Allied-held territory in the Netherlands.

Thompson was taken into hospital care and treated at No. 50 Military Field Hospital. He initially appeared to improve, but developed pneumonia and died on 23 January 1945. The mid-upper gunner, Ernest Potts, also died; rear gunner Price survived. Thompson never returned to flying duties. He was buried in Brussels Town Cemetery, Belgium, and his posthumous Victoria Cross was announced on 20 February 1945.

Official Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 20 February 1945, p. 999

Air Ministry, 20th February, 1945.

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned airman in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:

1370700 Flight Sergeant George THOMPSON, R.A.F.V.R., 9 Squadron (deceased).

This airman was the wireless operator in a Lancaster aircraft which attacked the Dortmund-Ems Canal in daylight on the 1st January, 1945.

The bombs had just been released when a heavy shell hit the aircraft in front of the mid-upper turret. Fire broke out and dense smoke filled the fuselage. The nose of the aircraft was then hit and an inrush of air, clearing the smoke, revealed a scene of utter devastation. Most of the perspex screen of the nose compartment had been shot away, gaping holes had been torn in the canopy above the pilot's head, the inter-communication wiring was severed, and there was a large hole in the floor of the aircraft. Bedding and other equipment were badly damaged or alight; one engine was on fire.

Flight Sergeant Thompson saw that the gunner was unconscious in the blazing mid-upper turret. Without hesitation he went down the fuselage into the fire and the exploding ammunition. He pulled the gunner from his turret and, edging his way round the hole in the floor, carried him away from the flames. With his bare hands, he extinguished the gunner's burning clothing. He himself sustained serious burns on his face, hands and legs.

Flight Sergeant Thompson then noticed that the rear gun turret was also on fire. Despite his own severe injuries he moved painfully to the rear of the fuselage where he found the rear gunner with his clothing alight, overcome by flames and fumes. A second time Flight Sergeant Thompson braved the flames. With great difficulty he extricated the helpless gunner and carried him clear. Again, he used his bare hands, already burnt, to beat out flames on a comrade's clothing.

Flight Sergeant Thompson, by now almost exhausted, felt that his duty was yet not done. He must report the fate of the crew to the captain. He made the perilous journey back through the burning fuselage, clinging to the sides with his burnt hands to get across the hole in the floor. The flow of cold air caused him intense pain and frost-bite developed. So pitiful was his condition that his captain failed to recognise him. Still, his only concern was for the two gunners he had left in the rear of the aircraft. He was given such attention as was possible until a crash-landing was made some forty minutes later. When the aircraft was hit, Flight Sergeant Thompson might have devoted his efforts to quelling the fire and so have contributed to his own safety. He preferred to go through the fire to succour his comrades. He knew that he would then be in no position to hear or heed any order which might be given to abandon aircraft. He hazarded his own life in order to save the lives of others. Young in years and experience, his actions were those of a veteran.

Three weeks later Flight Sergeant Thompson died of his injuries. One of the gunners unfortunately also died, but the other owes his life to the superb gallantry of Flight Sergeant Thompson, whose signal courage and self-sacrifice will ever be an inspiration to the Service.