Ronald Thomas

Ronald Thomas
Surname	Christian Names		Service Number			Rank	Regiment
Thomas	Ronald		1586842			Sgt	103 Sqn, RAFVR
Born	Age	Enlisted at			Address
	20
Date of Death	Where killed					Cause of Death
25/03/1944	In the air - during mission to bomb Berlin					Killed in action
Cemetery	Plot					Country
Chippenham (London Road) Cemetery	429					England
Next of Kin	Next of kin address					Town
Herbert and Emily Thomas						Chippenham
Notes
Flying Lancaster based at Elsham Wolds. Ronald Thomas the rear gunner of the Lancaster PM-M and killed when he was hit in the chest with 20mm Cannon from a night fighter. My Friend Jack Spark was the Wireless Op who was sent to report on damage after the attack & he found Bob, I believe they has called him in his turret. The whole story was the subject of an article in Fly Past a Year or Two back. In this Raid Jack Received a DFM for saving the Lancaster, During the raid he had seen a night fighter cone by searchlights fire of a series of flares. Later in the raid when they were coned he fired of the same series & the searchlights went out. Jack who is still with us Contacted the crew of the fortress they had wrecked & found out the American radio Op & pilot were the only survivor of a later shoot down. This Radio Operator George Silva, Jack & myself continue to talk via the internet Video link most evenings. The full story of the Lancaster PM-M & the Passionate Witch Fortress crews was fully detailed in a book Eight Airforce Bomber Stories. by Ian MClachlan. Both had a very rough war but with a lot of funny parts they are both happy to recall. George Silva I know was in Stalag 17b & he took part in the horrendous forced march from this camp. Rear Gunner Sgt Ronald Thomas was killed on board Lancaster ND572 PM-M on mission to Berlin when a German night fighter had opened fire. Bomber known to have reached England again, but was damaged in fast landing at Dunsfold: port wheel collapsed and plane collided with a USAAF B-17 there. However, it was repaired, only to be lost in a mid-air collision on 2 Mar 45. Crew were: F/S F. Brownings, F/S A. Richardson, P/O R. Walker, F/S J. Spark, P/O N. Barker, Sgt K. Smart (all safe) and Sgt R. Thomas (KIA). Regards, Leendert Brugge/Belgium
Memorials Commemorated on:
Chippenham Town War Memorial				Yes

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