Box 025, folder 25: Thomas Ambroise Thomson

THOMSON, Thomas Ambroise

Canadian 425 Allouette Sqn.

BOX 25, #25

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? Flight Sergeant Thomas Ambroise Thomson, DFC, CD.

What was your squadron, station, unit? # 425 (Allouette) Sqn. Tolthorpe, Yorks.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? In the air above Cherbourg Peninsula approximately midnight 6 Jun 44.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pilot Officer

What was your age on June 6, 1944? Twenty

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? Clara

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Clerk Accountant Supervisor, RCAF.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? Only memorable event was the terrific number of boats in the Channel shown on radar (H2S).

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). None

Your name FS TA THOMSON

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Include any impressions from it. NO

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? Yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?: No

Were you wounded? No

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? [crossed out] No [end crossed out] No

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Instead of normal bombing height of 20,000 plus our [crossed out] gropu [end crossed out] group attack the bridge at Coutances at height of about 2,000. As a result crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] bombing runs were extremely rough due to exploding bombs of the lead aircraft. Several a/c returned to base with debris still lodged in fuselage.

Did you encounter any enemy aircraft or flak? Was your aircraft demaged? Attacked by two flak boats south of Channel Islands while flying at approx. 2000 feet. Eluded same by dropping close to sea level and tail gunner returning fire. Later Inteeligence reports stated that Canadian flak boats were operating in that area.

Your name FS TA THOMSON

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-Day?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Harrogate, England

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Airborne over France

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-Day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? No

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

W.M. Lee Squadron Leader Director of Public Relations (Air) Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario.