F/S Hugh Matthew Clifton Thomas DFC RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron and 576 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds - 1943/44
Tommy Thomas and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds sometime in October 1943. They were part of 103 Squadron C Flight and at the end of November transferred to 576 Squadron with the rest of C Flight and completed their tour. This was an extremely hard tour through the winter of 1943/44 and early spring of 1944. Tommy Thomas was awarded a well earned DFC on completion as was navigator F/O M E Elliott
At the start of their tour the crew consisted of :-
F/S H M C Thomas,
Sgt D Arlott
P/O M A Elliott
Sgt H Morrison
Sgt P W Green
Sgt H Radbone
Sgt L Mulholland
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Tour details
103 Squadron
03-Nov-43 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – JA868 – F/S HMC Thomas
18-Nov-43 – Berlin - Lancaster - LM332 – F/S HMC Thomas
22-Nov-43 - Berlin – Lancaster - LM332 – F/S HMC Thomas
23-Nov-43 - Berlin - Lancaster - ED713 – F/S HMC Thomas – Did not take off - Cancelled due to high winds which caused some aircraft to swing on take off
26-Nov-43 - Berlin - Lancaster - ED713 - F/S HMC Thomas - Diverted to Scorton because of bad visibility at base
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576 Squadron
This crew had several temporary changes in personnel throughout their 576 Sqn operations. A permanent change was that of F/S A E Denslow who replaced Sgt P W Green from mid January 1944
29/12/1943 - Berlin - ND362 – F/S HMC Thomas
01/01/1944 - Berlin - ND402 – F/S HMC Thomas - Inconclusive combats with single engined night fighter
05/01/1944 - Stettin - ND386 – F/S HMC Thomas
14/01/1944 - Brunswick - ND386 – F/S HMC Thomas
20/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 – F/S HMC Thomas
21/01/1944 - Magdeburg - ND386 – F/S HMC Thomas
15/02/1944 - Berlin - LL796 – F/S HMC Thomas
19/02/1944 - Leipzig - LL796 – F/S HMC Thomas
20/02/1944 - Stuttgart - LL796 – F/S HMC Thomas
24/02/1944 - Schweinfurt - LL796 – F/S HMC Thomas
25/02/1944 - Augsburg - LL796 – F/S HMC Thomas
15/03/1944 - Stuttgart - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas – Early Return - Engine unserviceable.
18/03/1944 - Frankfurt - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
22/03/1944 - Frankfurt - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
24/03/1944 - Berlin - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
26/03/1944 - Essen - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
30/03/1944 - Nuremberg - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
10/04/1944 - Aulnoye - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
11/04/1944 - Aachen - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
26/04/1944 - Essen - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
27/04/1944 - Friedrichshafen - LL796 - P/O HMC Thomas
01/05/1944 - Lyons - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
03/05/1944 - Mailly-le-Camp - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
07/05/1944 - Rennes St Jacques – LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
19/05/1944 - Orleans - LL796 – P/O HMC Thomas
21/05/1944 - Duisburg - LM120 – P/O HMC Thomas
I am sure I have a photo of this crew which will be amongst a large number which have never been catalogued. It will no doubt turn up in due course and I will add it to this page.
For further info and photos see Wartime Brothers Blog - Jonathan Thomas
Item compiled by David Fell
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