Reginald John (Tommy) THOMPSON DFC

THOMPSON, Reginald John

Service Number: O316968
Enlisted: 6 December 1966
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit: No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2
Born: Brixham South Devon United Kingdom , 18 January 1925
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Pilot
Memorials:
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Vietnam War Service

6 Dec 1966: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, O316968, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2
11 Mar 1968: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, O316968
11 Mar 1968: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, O316968, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2, RAAF Operations - Vietnam
9 Oct 1969: Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, RAAF Operations - Vietnam
Date unknown: Involvement Flight Lieutenant, O316968, No. 35 Squadron (RAAF) - WW2

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Biography contributed by Graham Padget

Flight Lieutenant Reginald John Thompson had previously served with RAF during WW2. He enlisted in the RAAF in 1966 during the Vietnam Conflict.

On January 19, 1969, a Caribou aircraft of 35 Squadron captained by Flight Lieutenant Reginald John Thompson was taxiing on a resupply mission at Katum, a small special forces out post near the Cambodian border when it came under attack from mortar fire.

In the words of the Captain, Flt Lt Reginald  “Tommy” Thompson: 

“The first mortar landed about 25 feet in front of the port wing shattering the windscreen. Two more followed in quick succession and then the rest. Most of the hits were in the nose area”. It was later discovered there were over a hundred holes in the forward surfaces of the aircraft. “We were left with two choices, if we stayed we might take a direct hit and if we left the aircraft might not perform correctly due to shrapnel damage. We made a quick decision to fly without being able to assess the full extent of the damage.”

When airborne, it was discovered, as well as two of the tyres being burst, the hydraulics were also out and the undercarriage had to be manually pumped up. To land at Bien Hoa the emergency undercarriage extension system had to be used.

What Tommy didn’t say was he was bleeding from a shrapnel wound to his leg. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his efforts in “preventing further damage to the aircraft and crew.” The Loadmaster, Cpl Barrie Gracie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) for his assistance to the captain in jettisoning the cargo just prior to take off.

(compiled, edited and extracted from radschool/Vol33/Page12.htm and AWM Vietnam war records)

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