Flight Sergeant George Thompson, VC Extract from The London Gazette of 20th February 1945 “1370700 Flight Sergeant George Thompson, RAFVR, No IX Squadron, Bomber Command. This airman was a wireless operator in a Lancaster bomber, which attacked the Dortmund Ems Canal in daylight on 1st January 1945. The bombs had just been released, when a heavy shell hit the aircraft in front of the mid-upper turret. Fore broke and dense smoke filled the fuselage. The nose of the aircraft was then hit and an inrush of air, clearing the smoke revealed a scene of utter devastation. Most of the Perspex screen of the nose compartment had been shot away, gaping holes had been torn in the canopy above the pilot’s head, the inter-communication wiring had been severed and there was a large hole in the floor of the aircraft. Bedding and other equipment were badly damaged or alight; one engine was on fire. Flight Sergeant Thompson saw that the gunner was unconscious in the blazing mid-upper turret. Without hesitation he went down the fuselage into the fire and exploding ammunition. He pulled the gunner from his turret and, edging his way round the hole in the floor, carried him away from the flames. With his bare hands, he extinguished the gunner’s burning clothing. He himself sustained serious burns on his face, hands and legs. Flight Sergeant Thompson then noticed that the rear gunner was also on fire. Despite his own severe injuries he moved painfully to the rear of the fuselage where he found the rear gunner with his clothing alight, overcome by flames and fumes. A second time Flight Sergeant Thompson braved the flames. With great difficulty he extracted the helpless gunner and carried him clear. Again, he used his bare hands, already burnt, to beat out the flames on a comrades clothing. Flight Sergeant Thompson, by now almost exhausted, felt that his duty was not yet done. He must report the fate of the crew to the captain. He made a perilous journey back through the burning fuselage, clinging to the sides with his burnt hands to get across the hole in the floor. The flow of cold air caused him intense pain and frostbite developed. So pitiful was his condition that his captain failed to recognise him. Still, his only concern was for the two gunners he had left in the rear of the aircraft. He was given such attention as was possible until a crash landing was made some forty minutes later. When the aircraft was hit, Flight Sergeant might have devoted his efforts to quelling the fire and so contributed to his own safety. He preferred to go through the fire to succour his comrades. He knew that he would then be in no position to hear or heed any order, which might be given to abandon the aircraft. He hazarded his own life to save the lives of others. Young in years and experience, his actions were those of a veteran. Three weeks later Flight Sergeant Thompson died of his injuries. One of the gunners unfortunately died, but the other owes his life to the superb gallantry of Flight Sergeant Thompson, whose single courage and self-sacrifice will ever be an inspiration to the service.” A Canadian Spitfire squadron escorted the Lancaster bomber until it had crossed safely behind the Allied lines. By this time the bomber was down to two engines only. It eventually crash landed in a field in Holland, but without catching fire. The remaining four crew members were unharmed and were able to drag Thompson and the two gunners out of the fuselage. One story has it that Thompson said to the pilot after: ‘Good landing, skipper’. They were taken to a hospital in Eindhoven. Sadly, the upper gunner died the next day. Thompson, although very badly burned seemed to be making good progress, but his burns were too intense and sadly he too succumbed to pneumonia three weeks later. The pilot. Flight Lieutenant Harry Denton was awarded the DFC for his courage in getting the aircraft back and George Thompson was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. George Thompson’s action won him the most glowing panegyric in the long and eloquent history of the VC awards. ‘His courage,’ said the Citation, ‘has seldom been equalled and never surpassed.’ George Thompson came from Kirkness farm and he attended Portmoak Primary School. There is a bronze memorial plaque in the entrance to the school to commemorate his immense courage.