War Service
Pilot Officer
190987, 49 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
*Trained in Northern Ireland.
49 squadron moved to RAF Fulbeck in October 1944. Fulbeck is 6 miles east of Newark-upon-Trent, Nottinghamshire. At 1649 on the 8th Feb 1945 Thomas was part of a seven man crew of a mark III Lancaster (ME353 EA-Q) which took off as part of ‘Operation Politz’. This operation was carried out by 475 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes from 1,5 and 8 groups. 12 of the Lancasters failed to return. The weather conditions were clear and the planes attacked in two waves their target was a synthetic-oil plant at Politz. The bombing was excellent and the plant was out of action for the rest of the war; Albert Speer, Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production stated after the war that the loss of this plant had been a huge setback to Germany’s war effort, at it’s peak it produced 15% of Germany’s synthetic oil, which was used as aviation fuel.
The Lancaster crashed in Poland and Thomas with five crew mates is buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. F/S E Ellis survived the crash and was taken prisoner.
:
