Flight Lt R Thomas

Against Unfavourable Odds

The “Distinguished Flying Cross” award to acting Flight Lt Rae Thomas, a 22-year-old No 240 Squadron pilot flying anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts over the Atlantic’s “Western Approaches” in one of the few RAF Pembroke based Supermarine Stranraer’s, announced in “The London Gazette” on July 30th, the third South African Coastal Command recipient was unrelated to the aerial combat subsequently described as the “Battle of Britain”.

The Dreaded Telegram

Thomas and his 8-man crew flew their first sortie three days later but in the early morning of April 9th, their Catalina was shot down by Japanese Zero’s16. Thomas was able to relay the “position course and speed” of a “large Japanese naval force”. No 413 Squadrons “Operations Record Book” records “the aircraft did not return” ………. “F/L R Thomas DFC was one of our best pilots and his loss will be keenly felt by the squadron. The information given in his last report was very important and the defenses of Ceylon were further prepared.” There were no survivors.