Vincent Maxwell THOMAS

Vincent Maxwell THOMAS Update Details

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THOMAS, Vincent Maxwell

Service Number:	400944
Enlisted:	11 November 1940
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Echuca, Victoria, Australia, 9 November 1920
Home Town:	Malvern East, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling:	Melbourne High School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, near Alfonsine, Italy, 9 January 1945, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy Plot I, row F, grave 22, Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Argenta, Ferrara, Italy
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flying Officer, 400944
11 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 400944, No. 1 Initial Training School Somers
11 Nov 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 400944
23 Feb 1941:	Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, 400944, Emb. Melbourne for South Africa
14 Oct 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant
14 Apr 1942:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant
7 Feb 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 400944, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre
14 Apr 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
21 Dec 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
26 Jun 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Flying Officer Vincent Maxwell Thomas 400944 was killed when Mustang KH615 of 3SQN RAAF crashed while attacking the Alfonsine road bridge near Mestre, Italy

Flight Lieutenant Hodgkinson led a formation of ten aircraft to attack the road bridge which was bombed along the centre resulting in two direct hits that demolished all of the southern span and most of the centre span. Flying Officer Thomas was hit by flak and went into a spin after bombing, his aircraft crashed into a minefield.

After the German surrender in May 1945 Padre Fred McKay searched for the crash site and conducted a proper burial service for Vincent Thomas

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