Cecil Thompson (RAF officer), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Cecil Thompson (RAF officer)

South African flying ace

Date of Birth: 04-Dec-1894

Place of Birth: Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa

Date of Death: 16-Mar-1973

Profession: flying ace

Nationality: South Africa

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius


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About Cecil Thompson (RAF officer)

  • Lieutenant Cecil Robert Thompson was a South African World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.Thompson served two and a half years in the ground forces in both the East and West African campaigns against the Germans.
  • He then transferred into the Royal Flying Corps in August 1917.
  • In April 1918, he joined 84 Squadron on the Western Front as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot.
  • He spent June and July in hospital.
  • Then, on 4 August 1918, he destroyed an Albatros D.V; on the 7th, drove down a Pfalz D.III out of control; on the 11th, destroyed a Fokker D.VII.
  • Then, for his last three victories, he turned balloon buster.
  • On 4 September, he teamed with Sidney Highwood to destroy a German observation balloon.
  • The next day, Thompson destroyed another.
  • On the 15th, he burned another for his final win, despite being tailed by four Fokker D.VIIs; then he was jumped by several more Fokker D.VIIs and wounded seriously in the face and shoulder.
  • He managed to struggle back to base despite his wounds.

Read more at Wikipedia