Service No: 130160 424 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Ralph Thompson married Joan Thompson in the last quarter of 1942. At around the same time he received a commission on 12th October 1942 to the rank of Pilot Officer on probation (emergency).

 

Wellington BK398 damaged by flak

On the evening of the 14th February 1943, he was the Navigator on a Wellington Aircraft undertaking an operational flight to bomb Cologne. The six man crew left base at Topcliffe at 18.08hrs. During the course of the operation the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak which made a hole in the windscreen. A splinter glass lodged itself in the eye of the Pilot, Squadron Leader Johnnie Comar from Winnipeg, Canada,  but he was able to make the return flight and land at base of Topcliffe at 23.45hrs. The damage sustained by the plane was very minor and repairs were made very quickly on site at Topcliffe. The plane was used operationally again on the 16th February.

 

Operation Frankfurt

 

Operation Frankfurt took place during the evening of 10th-11th April 1943. 502 aircraft took part during the night operation to bomb Frankfurt, including 144 Wellingtons, 136 Lancasters, 124 Halifaxes, and 98 Stirlings. 21 aircraft were lost  (4.2%). Complete cloud cover lead to another failed operation. Bomber command had no idea where th ebombs had fallen and the only damage listed was fires in a paper-goods stores and in the rafters of a few neighbouring houses. No deaths were reported in Frankfurt itself but 18 reported in the surrounding areas.

Ralph William Thompson was part of a crew that took off 21:18 on April 10th from Topcliffe in a Vickers Wellington X (Serial No: HE159 Markings QB-P). Outbound the plane developed severe engine problems and the order to bale out was given.

Ralph died on 11th April 1943 and is buried in the graveyard by St Mary and St Margaret Church in Castle Bromwich. Probate was granted to his widow Joan of 75 Chester Road, Castle Bromwich. His fellow crewmen (Pilot Robert Montgomery Buie, Wireless Operator Flight Sergeant Amos Walter Kimmerly and Bomber Aimer Pilot Officer Leonard Keith Taylor) are buried in Maidstone Cemetery, Kent.

 

 

References

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=HE159

http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york43/bk398.html