John Marlow Thompson

Who was John Marlow Thompson?

Air Commodore John Marlow Thompson CBE DSO DFC & Bar AFC was a Second World War Royal Air Force ace and Battle of Britain pilot.

Thompson was born on 16 August 1914 in Keynsham, Somerset and he joined the Royal Air Force on 16 March 1934.

He finished his pilot training in March 1935 and was posted to 29 Squadron. By 1937 he was a flight commander with 151 Squadron and then with promotion to acting Squadron Leader he took command of 111 Squadron with Hawker Hurricanes in January 1940.

He moved on to an air staff position with 11 Group in October 1940. He gained command of 131 Squadron in June 1941 and in November 1941 he became the commanding officer of 350 Squadron.

In early 1942 he was moved to the Middle East to become a wing leader and later commanding officer of RAF Hal Far on Malta at the end of 1943.

Thompson attended staff college in 1945 and by 1957 was officer commanding RAF Leeming, becoming the Director of Air Defence in December 1958. His last appointment was at HQ Military Air Traffic Organisation in 1962 until he retired in September 1966.