Thomas, Walter
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Walter |
Surname | Thomas |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 20-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Elias and Mary Elizabeth Thomas, of Kensal Rise, Middlesex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | de Havilland Mosquito IV |
Serial Number | DZ612 |
Markings | P3-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen |
Grave Reference | Block "S". Plot 1. Row G. Grave 3. |
Epitaph | ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS. MOTHER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 252 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 119075 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 692 (Fellowship of the Bellows) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Main Entrance, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone Inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 692 Sqn and 35 Sqn which flew from RAF Graveley during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-02-1944 |
End Date | 20-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid. |
Reason for Loss | Lost over France |