W/C William Thomas RIP

Kyt · Oct 18, 2008

'Great Escape' survivor dies - Telegraph

Wing Commander William Thomas - known universally as Tim - helped to dig tunnels at the notorious Stalag Luft III camp during the Second World War where he was held after being shot down over the occupied Netherlands.

As a young officer, he was among approximately 150 British and allied prisoners of war waiting their turn to enter one of three secret tunnels on the night of March 24 1944 as part of the mass break-out plan which later inspired the 1963 film starring Steve McQueen.

But he was still waiting when German guards foiled the effort, capturing all but three of the 76 men who had already made it through.

Fifty were later executed on the personal orders of Adolf Hitler.

He was held at the camp in Sagan, Poland, until its liberation the following year and remained in the RAF until 1967 rising to the rank of Wing Commander.

His knowledge of wartime operations was later put to use advising the production team making the film The Battle of Britain.

A British war hero, he even earned a small part in the film - as a German pilot.

Wg Cdr Thomas's RAF experience was to use flying a Heinkels and Messerschmitts during five months of filming in Spain.

"He did dig. He was certainly involved with tunnelling operations," said his nephew Adam Thomas, who only learnt about his modest uncle's part in the escape attempt four years ago.

"It was every officer's duty, if you got captured, to cause the enemy as much trouble as possible.

"He was literally in his escape gear in the prison camp, and ready to go down the tunnel when the Germans discovered it.

"He was probably fortunate when you consider that of the 76 who escaped 50 were shot.

"He never really said it but I've always thought ever since I found out, it was a good thing that he didn't escape."

Wg Cdr Thomas died in Portugal after a long illness.
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Antipodean Andy · Oct 19, 2008

RIP. Any word on his wartime flying career?

Kyt · Oct 21, 2008

This is bloody annoying. This is William Edward Thomas 60824. Received the OBE and AFC for post-war service. But I just can't find a unit or loss for him :frusty:

Antipodean Andy · Oct 21, 2008

Hmm, intriguing. Found a bit more but had to google "tim thomas"!

Wing Commander Tim Thomas - The Euro Weekly News, Newspapers Online

THE family and friends of Wing Commander W.E. ‘Tim’ Thomas OBE, AFC, will gather on Sunday, September 21, near Carvoeiro, to celebrate the life of this remarkable aviator who died recently at the age of 87, following a long period of illness.

Born in Wells, Somerset, ‘Tim’ Thomas’ parents first took him flying when he was just five years old. He last took the controls of an aircraft 80 years later in a birthday-present flight over the Algarve. In the years between, he flew many types of aircraft, ranging from biplane Tiger Moths to supersonic Javelins and Lightnings. He was at the controls of a Blenheim 1 light bomber in 1941 when he was shot down over Holland and crashed into the sea. After his capture and treatment for severe injuries, he was held for well over three years in the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp, where he took part in the tunnelling operations made famous in ‘The Great Escape’. Long after the Second World War, it was as the commanding officer of RAF Labuan, in Malaysia, during the Indonesian confrontation period, that he was awarded the OBE. Malaysia was one of several overseas postings, his last being in Germany, where he met his wife-to-be, Sybille. On retiring from the RAF in 1967 he joined the production of ‘The Battle of Britain’, flying German Heinkels and Messerschmitts during five months of filming in Spain.

Following his subsequent 15-year career in management consultancy in Germany and Saudi Arabia, Wing Commander and Mrs Thomas came to live permanently in the Algarve in 1985, although Tim continued his association with the British forces, engaging in charity work on behalf of disadvantaged and disabled ex-service personnel and their families. The drinks and canapes gathering next Sunday, which is open to all of Wing Commander Thomas’ friends, will be at 4pm in L’Orange Restaurant, Mato Serrao, Carvoeiro.
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Doesn't narrow it down too much, I know. I'll have a look at my 105 Sqn book tonight to see if there's any mention. If not, there's one to cross off the list! LOL.

Kyt · Oct 23, 2008

Henk, on rafcommands, was able to find the loss. The wrong initials explains why I couldn't find him in the relevant book:

I've him on Havoc I serial AW404 of 23 Sqn, Ford/Sussex. Target: Intruder airfield Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands. Hit by Flak near Haamstede. Part of the crew baled out. Aircraft crash landed on a sand bank SW of the Dutch island Schouwen, 01.23 hrs (must confess that the crash is NOT listed in "Aircraft crashes The Netherlands WW2"). F/Sgt W.D. McADAM - 519802 buried Adegem WC (Belgium), first buried Zeebrugge (Belgium). Sgt R. BRYER - 913425 Runnymede Panel 40.

Franks vol.1 page 140 and vol.2 page 155. Franks has for THOMAS initials "D.A.", however this officer became PoW on Halifax HR949 of 77 Sqn (Chorley Vol. 5 page 85).

Still looking for confirmation of the crash location SW of Schouwen.
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Antipodean Andy · Oct 23, 2008

No chance of finding him by looking at the Blenheim squadrons either! LOL. Have to admit I thought "Blenheim 1" didn't quite fit with 1941!

leospitcon · Dec 12, 2008

Aw404

Kyt said: ↑

'Great Escape' survivor dies - Telegraph
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According to my information all the information mentioned in your thread is right.

I have a official list of the Luchtbescherming Haamstede (Civil Defence) stated:
01.09.1941 01:25 hrs Aircraft bombed Westenschouwen and crashed in flames into the North Sea.

This must be the AW404 because this was the only aircraft that night that crashed.

Leo Bakker
Haamstede

liverpool annie · Dec 12, 2008

Hi Leo and welcome !!

The experts will be along in a while ... I'm just adding a snippet !!

Looks like it was his nephew who gave out the initial information !

Wing Commander W E 'Tim' Thomas, formerly of Croscombe
Wing Commander W E "Tim" Thomas OBE, AFC, died recently in Portugal at the age of 87, following a long period of illness.
He was born in Wells and brought up in Croscombe, where his father ran a garage (many in Croscombe will remember an old petrol pump which stood for there for years – it was installed by Tim's father). After his father died in the 1930s, the family (mother and five children) moved to Weston-super-Mare.
"Tim" Thomas's parents first took him flying when he was just five years old. He last took the controls of an aircraft 80 years later in a birthday-present flight over the Algarve. In the years between he flew many types of aircraft, ranging from bi-plane Tiger Moths to supersonic Javelins and Lightnings. He was at the controls of a Blenheim 1 light bomber in 1941 when he was shot down over Holland and crashed into the sea. After his capture and treatment for severe injuries, he was held for well over three years in the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp, where he took part in the tunnelling operations made famous in The Great Escape.
Long after the Second World War, it was as the commanding officer of RAF Labuan, in Malaysia, during the Indonesian confrontation period, that he was awarded the OBE. Malaysia was one of several overseas postings, his last being in Germany, where he met his wife-to-be, Sybille. On retiring from the RAF in 1967 he joined the production of The Battle of Britain, flying German Heinkels and Messerschmitts during five months of filming in Spain.
Following his subsequent 15-year career in management consultancy in Germany and Saudi Arabia, Wing Commander and Mrs Thomas came to live permanently in the Algarve in 1985, although Tim continued his association with the British forces, engaging in charity work on behalf of disadvantaged and disabled ex-service personnel and their families.
Adam Thomas (nephew)
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