Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 On a warm afternoon June 12, 1918 while reclining in a wicker chair at his airfield near Clairmarais, France, Lt. George "Tommy" Thomson took time to write his fianc? Ruth Sanders a letter explaining that he "was waiting on the shout of the klaxon horn as an order to go over to the war". He wrote that he was eager to get this evenings patrol over with as he and the men of his squadron were to celebrate that night the good news that the gunnery officer's wife had just given birth to a new son. Little did he know that instead of champagne and caviar with his mess mates he would be dining on black bread and beer as a guest of the Kaiser. George Franklin Thomson was born on June 12, 1892 in Craig, Missouri the eldest child and first born son of William and Carrie Thomson. "Frank" as he was called by his parents grew up in Craig and enjoyed a comfortable childhood. He graduated from Craig High School, attended Evanston Academy prep school in Evanston, Illinois and then enrolled in Northwestern University majoring in journalism. It was there that Thomson met and fell in love with the young woman that would some day become his wife. After graduating in the Class of 1914, Thomson first worked as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago News-Index. By 1917 Tommy was working as a press agent in Boston, Massachusetts for Filene's Department Store. It was while living at 224 Milk Street in Boston, that Tommy received the news that the United States had declared war with Imperial Germany. Thomson along with thousands of others rushed to the recruiting stations to enlist, but to his disappointment Thomson was turned down by every branch of the US Military, having been declared physically unfit due to a childhood heart aliment. Tommy cast about looking for some means of service and had about resigned himself to service with the YMCA when he encountered a British recruiting mission and inquired if Americans could enlist. He was assured that if he could pass the physical there would be no problem. Apparently the requirements of the British Empire were not as stringent as Uncle Sam's for before he knew it, Thomson found himself onboard a train heading north to Canada to "Serve King and Country" as a cadet in the Royal Flying Corp. After successfully completing his training and receiving his commission, Thomson sailed for England in the early spring of 1918. He then finished his flight training and was assigned as a replacement pursuit pilot with the famous 74 Squadron. In the annals of British aviation 74 Squadron was known as one of the hardest fighting squadrons in the B.E.F. It hosted a series of pilots whose names ring out in the pantheon of WWI aviators. Eddie "Mick" Mannock , Harris "Clem" Clements, "Swazi" Howe, "Zulu" Savage, Sidney "Timbertoes" Carlin who had a wooden leg from a wound while fighting in the trenches, Keith "Grid" Caldwell and Ira "Taffy" Jones to name a few. With the well earned nickname of the "Tiger Squadron", 74 with its SE5a aircraft was a plumb assignment for young Lt. Thomson.Thomson arrived at 74 on May 19, 1918 and noted the relaxed atmosphere and wrote to Ruth that his flight commander (Mannock) sometimes flew early missions while wearing his pajamas under his flight suit. Tommy quickly fell into the routine and began going on several patrols each day. On June 12th he, along with two other pilots, "Clem" Clements and "Swazi" Howe left their aerodrome at 7:30 PM heading south towards Armentieres. Thomson noted later that he was flying a borrowed plane as his had been damaged by a pilot from another squadron who accidentally landed on his aircraft while coming in for a night landing. Tommy soon discovered that this borrowed plane was not up to snuff and he began to have difficulty maintaining his place in the formation. Unknown to his comrades Tommy fell behind and was on the verge of turning for home when they were attacked by a formation of seven German Pfalz fighters. Tommy was quickly cut off and in his words the enemy tracers flew past him like "ribbons". A young German pilot from Hofstetten, Bavaria named Josef Schafer flying for Jasta 16 fired a stream of bullets that pierced the engine of the SE5a that was in his sights and he saw the plane roll over and go into a spin. Tommy describes the incident as happening so fast it was hard to realize what had happened. He was able to level his plane out just before it crashed and after it smashed into a tangle of barb wire and flipped over, he found himself hanging upside down over a shell hole and he was drenched in gasoline. Tommy unbuckled his safety strap, dropped down and crawled out from underneath the wreckage just in time to look up to see two enemy aircraft diving down on him. At first he thought they were going to strafe him, but they waggled their wings and waved goodbye before they zoomed back up to join their comrades. As Tommy stood there more chagrined than hurt, a German medic approached to ask him "Ist Sie Krank? (Are you sick?) Thus began Tommy's nine months of incarceration as a Prisoner of War. Note: The tunic in the photo is the uniform that Thomson was wearing when he was shot down June 12, 1918.
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 The Hun that shot down Tommy posed in his Pfalz airplane. Lt. Josef Johann Schaffer of Jasta 16. Tommy was Schaffer's first victory and he went on to get two more for a total of three confirmed. 12 June, 1918 - SE5a south of Bailleul (Thomson POW)2 July, 1918 - Bristol F.2b, Zandvoorde (2nd Lt. P.G. Jones KIA, Lt. Traill POW)10 October, 1918 - R.E.8, West of YpresSchaffer was shot down and killed in Flanders October 10, 1918 the same day he scored his third victory. Schafffer is buried in Krefeld Cemetery, Germany.
arrestanddevelopment Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 TRuly wonderful group !!Do you have his medals as well ??Steve
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Steve.I sure do, the group consists of the two tunics and trousers, side cap, visor cap, french kepi from a POW camp, medals, silk tie, photographs, all the letters he sent home from the war, newspaper clippings, Red Cross correspondance, piles of paperwork, Cox and Co. checkbooks, etc. Let me know what you think. I collect American WWI aviation and American Ambulance Field Service groupings and this is the first British group I've ever owned.
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 The letter from Keith Caldwell written June 13, 1918 the day after Thomson was shot down, informing his parents that thier son was missing from patrol.
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 A copy of the after-action report of Thomson's downing from the Royal Archives
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Inscriptions on the rims of the medals
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Photo of Tommy taken either in France or while training in England. Thomson is on the left.
arrestanddevelopment Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Photo of Tommy taken either in France or while training in England. Thomson is on the left.Blimy considerings its your first Brit related group youv gone the full hog mate !!Total wow factor !!!If you ever decide the credit crunch is to much and you need to part with drop me a line !!! thats a group worth having !!I have a collection of about 100 original WW1 pilot badges, plus medals etc !!all the bestSteve
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 A very nice and very complete group. Thank you very much, it has been a lot of fun researching this man and his service.
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Blimy considerings its your first Brit related group youv gone the full hog mate !!Total wow factor !!!If you ever decide the credit crunch is to much and you need to part with drop me a line !!! thats a group worth having !!I have a collection of about 100 original WW1 pilot badges, plus medals etc !!all the bestSteveI've been collecting WWI American for years and I have several large groups, (letters, photos, uniforms, etc.), but I have been told by some that in the world of English collecting, this group may be unique because of it's depth. One gentleman told me that it is rare to find an RFC or RAF uniform with any paper much less four pounds like with this group. In your opinion is this true?
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 (edited) Tommy and some of his fellow POWs . Photo taken at Kreigsgefangenen lager Camstigall-bei-Pillau, East Prussia. Thomson is seated to the right. PS The uniform he is wearing is the one seen in the post. Edited October 31, 2008 by Connor William
Connor William Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Tommy and some of his fellow POWs . Photo taken at Kreigsgefangenen lager Camstigall-bei-Pillau, East Prussia. Thomson is seated to the right. PS The uniform he is wearing is the one seen in the post.As a side note,,the young man seated to the left in the maternity jacket was a buddy of Thomson's. His name was Lt. Hubert Mason. He was a pilot with 209 Squadron. He left Bertangles at 5;25 pm June 20th, 1918 on an offensive patrol flying a Sopwith Camel serial number D3405. He engaged in combat with enemy aircraft from Jasta 28. He fell west of Cerisy. A combat claim by Ltn. E. Thuy and Lt. K. Christ. He was repatriated to England December 13, 1918.
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