John Marlow Thompson, who became nicknamed 'Tommy' was born on 16 August 1914 in Keynsham, Somerset, and was educated at Bristol Grammar School.

He gained a short service commission as an acting pilot officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in March 1934.

[3] In January 1940, and with the Second World War well underway, Thompson was promoted to acting squadron leader and given command of No.

It moved the following month to Wick, where it provided the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow with aerial cover.

With the assistance of nearby British soldiers, he was able to make his way back to England, finding passage on a ship sailing from Boulogne.

111 Squadron was based at Croydon, initially patrolling over the English Channel and then being engaged in the aerial fighting over the southeast of England.

[4] Under Thompson's leadership, the squadron developed the tactic of making head-on attacks on approaching Luftwaffe bomber formations.

The published citation read: This officer has commanded a squadron since January, 1940, and has operated over various areas in Northern France.

He has, himself, shot down eight and damaged at least six enemy aircraft.Thompson moved into an air staff position at the headquarters of 11 Group in October 1940, where he remained for several months.

[8] Thompson worked the unit up to operational status by October and the following month he and several Belgian pilots were detached to form the basis of No.

It became operational in December and carried out air cover patrols for shipping in the Irish Sea and was also occasionally scrambled to deal with incoming German aircraft.

During the October blitz of Malta mounted by the Luftwaffe, Thompson achieved a number of aerial victories, the first of which being a Bf 109 that he shot down over St. Paul's Bay.

[6] In May 1943, Thompson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the published citation reading: This officer has a fine operational record.

For the past 9 months he has been engaged in flying operations from Malta, playing a prominent part in the defence of the island during a period of intense air attacks.

Latterly, Wing Commander Thompson has led formations of fighter-bombers in numerous successful attacks against port installations, factories, airfields and other targets.

[6] Thompson attended the RAF Staff College at Bracknell in September 1945 and was then posted to the headquarters British Air Forces of Occupation in Germany.

After three years in Germany, he was wing leader at Thorney Island, flying Gloster Meteor fighter jets.

[6][16] Thompson's aviation expertise was in demand and shortly after his retirement he became the general manager of Airwork in Saudi Arabia for two years.