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Alex Thom

Name : Alex Thom Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross

Born in Perth, Scotland, Alex Thom joined the RAFVR on June 24th 1939 and flew at the weekends at 11 EARFTS Perth. At the outbreak of World War Two, Thom was called up for full time service with the Royal Air Force and was posted to 3 ITW at Hastings on October 2nd 1939, moving to 15 EFTS at Redhill on April 29th 1940 and on June 15th moved again to 15 FTS, initially at Brize Norton and later to Chipping Norton. Alex Thom went to 6 OTU on September 29th at Sutton Bridge where he converted to Hawker Hurricanes and joined 79 squadron stationed at Pembury only for a short period when he was transferred to 87 Squadron on October 6th 1940, moving with the squadron on the 31st of October to their new base at Exeter. He achieved the rank of Pilot Officer on the 3rd of December 1941. During his time at Exeter he was also based on the Scilly Isles and on one occasion after shooting down an enemy bomber the crew bailed out over the sea. Alex Thom circled the downed German crew who were in a life raft until a motor launch came and picked them up. Thom would later meet the crew and was given a flying helmet by the German pilot, an item he still has today. Alex Thom was appointed B Flight commander on 10th July 1942 and was awarded the DFC on the 14th August 1942. At this time he was credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed and a probable He111. On the 19th of August 1942 while supporting the ground forces at Dieppe, his Hurricane (LK - M) was hit by ground fire and lost oil pressure. He managed to limp back to England where he made a forced landing at East Den. Thom managed to get back to his airfield as a passenger in a Master flown by Flt Sgt Lowe and immediately took off again in Hurricane (LK - A) back to Dieppe where he proceeded to strafe enemy positions. On the 1st of October 1942 he became F/O. In November 1942, 87 Squadron was transferred to North Africa. They were transported by ship to Gibraltar where the squadron flew sorties, and then onto North Africa. Thom was posted away from the squadron to be a flying control officer at Bone. He returned to 87 Squadron which was then based at Tongley and took command on June 27th 1943. He was again posted away from the squadron on September 27th returning to the UK with the Rank of Flight Lt. Thom became an instructor with 55 OTU at Annan on November 17th moving to Kirton in Linsay on March 12th 1944 to join 53 OTU. He was appointed Flight Commander Fighter Affiliation Flight at 84 (Bomber) OTU at Husbands Bosworth on May 19th 1944 and remained there until October 10th when he went to RAF Peterhead as Adjutant. His final posting was to HQ13 Group, Inverness on May 8th 1945 as a Staff Officer and retired from the RAF on December 4th 1945 as a Flight Lt. Alexander Thom DFC signing some of our art prints in 2010. Cranston Fine Arts offer our warmest thanks to Alexander Thom for taking the time to meet with us and add his signature to some of our artwork. Citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross : This officer has been engaged on operational flying for a long period, both by day and by night. Throughout he has displayed great keenness and devotion to duty. He has destroyed two enemy aircraft both of which he shot down after pursuing them out to sea for more than 50 miles. On one occasion, he engaged a Heinkel 111 in extremely hazardous flying weather and probably destroyed it. Recently, Pilot Officer Thom has completed several successful intruder operations. He has invariably displayed initiative and courage.

Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew

Wing Commander Bob Doe during the Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Hurricanes at the Ready by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Supermarine Spitfire by Graeme Lothian. (P)

P.O. Constantine Pegge, 610 Sqn, August 1940 by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Spitfire - Fighting Lady by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Dogfight - Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Hawker Hurricane - War Horse by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Supermarine Spitfire - Job Well Done by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Bob Doe - Spitfire Ace by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Spitfire Wing by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Tribute to the Spitfire Pilots by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Spitfire Maintenance Check by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Polish Spitfire by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Billy Drake - First of Many by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

41 Squadron Spitfire by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Sqn Ldr Maurice Brown - No.41 Sqn by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Terminal Morane by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Tribute to F/Lt Owen Tracey by Ivan Berryman.

Victory Over Malta by Ivan Berryman. (P)

A Hasty Exit by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Revenge of the Raider by Ivan Berryman. (P)

One on the Run by Ivan Berryman.

Beurling's Day by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Time to Leave by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Lost Over Dunkirk by Ivan Berryman. (P)

A Dunkirk Encounter by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

501 Sqn Scramble by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Kerr's Last Combat by Ivan Berryman. (P)

41 Sqn Scramble by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

501 Squadron Hurricanes by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Wounded Eagle by Ivan Berryman. (P)

Straggler's End by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Dornier's Demise by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Into the Schwarm by Ivan Berryman. (P)

A Welcome Shore by Ivan Berryman.

Down and Out by Ivan Berryman.

D-Day Spitfire - Johnnie Johnson by Graeme Lothian. (P)

32 Squadron Hurricanes - Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Battle of Britain Hurricanes by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Hurricanes - 85 Squadron by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Standing Guard by Graeme Lothian. (P)

234 Squadron Scramble by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Battle of Britain - 85 Squadron Hurricanes by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Spitfire Mk.IX - No.441 Sqn RCAF by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Battle of Britain Ace - Bob Doe, 234 Squadron by Graeme Lothian. (P)

Desperate Measures by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

A Quick Despatch by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

Victory over Africa by Ivan Berryman.

Tribute to Squadron Leader Derek Ward by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

A Norwegian Tribute by Ivan Berryman.

Gauntlet by Anthony Saunders. (B)

Night Reaper, 4th May 1942 by David Pentland. (E)

The Battle for the Skies Over Dieppe, 19th August 1942 by Graeme Lothian. (E)

Hurricane Patrol by Graeme Lothian. (D)

Hurricanes Over the Needles by Graeme Lothian (B)

Return From Combat by Simon Smith (AP)

Flt Lt Walter Lawson by Ivan Berryman.

Close Combat by Ivan Berryman.

Adversaries by Ivan Berryman.

Total Commitment by Ivan Berryman.

Victory Above Dover by Ivan Berryman.

The Longest July by Ivan Berryman.

A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman. (AP)

High Patrol by Ivan Berryman.

Guardian Angels by Ivan Berryman.

An Early Bath by Ivan Berryman.

Spitfire Dawn by Keith Woodcock. (B)

Tip of the Spear by David Pentland. (P)

Spitfire! by David Pentland. (P)

Doe's Griffin by David Pentland.

Scramble by David Pentland. (P)

Textbook Attack by David Pentland. (P)

Operation Jubilee by David Pentland. (P)

Taxi Service by David Pentland.

Strafing Run by David Pentland.

Air Taxi by David Pentland.

Danger Over Dieppe by David Pentland.

Summer 1940 by Ivan Berryman.

Job Well Done by Ivan Berryman.

Hurricane of No.501 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.

3 Squadron Hurricanes by Ivan Berryman.

Spitfires of No.611 West Lancashire Squadron by Ivan Berryman.

Peaceful Interlude (Spitfires) by Ivan Berryman.

Spitfire Sunset by Barry Price.

Spitfires - September 1940 by Barry Price. (B)

Quartet by Gerald Coulson. (C)

Aircraft for : Alex Thom
A list of all aircraft associated with Alex Thom. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Hurricane Click the name above to see prints featuring Hurricane aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533	Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built.

Squadrons for : Alex Thom
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Alex Thom. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.79 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st August 1917 Fate : Disbanded (renumbered) 1st January 1962 Madras Presidency Nil nobis obstare potest - Nothing can stop us Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.79 Sqn RAF	No.79 Sqn RAF Formed at Gosport on the 1st of August 1917, No.79 Squadron was moved to France in December 1917 and equipped with Dolphins which carried out fighter patrols and ground attack missions until the end of the war. After the Armistice 79 Squadron was stationed in Germany as part of the occupation forces, and on the 15 of July 1919, the squadron was disbanded. 79 Squadron was reformed on 22nd March 1937 at Biggin Hill, being formed from B Flight of No.32 Squadron. Initially the squadron was equipped with Gauntlets until the end of 1938 when they were replaced with Hawker Hurricanes. When World War Two broke out, 79 Squadrons role was to fly defensive patrols until May 1940 when 79 Squadron was sent to France for only a short period of 10 days. The Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain and after the Battle of Britain the squadron moved to South Wales until the end of 1941. 79 Squadron was sent to the Far East on 4th March 1942 arriving in India on 20th June. Between May 1944, and September 1944 No.79 was withdrawn from active service to be re-equipped with Thunderbolts and after the war the squadron was disbanded on 30th December 1945. No.79 was reformed for a ten year period on 15th November 1951 at Gutersloh initially flying the Meteor jet fighter but being re-equipped with the new Swift and being used in the role of a fighter-reconnaissance unit. On the 1st of January No.79 squadron was renumbered 4 Squadron.
No.87 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 3rd January 1961 United Provinces Maximus me metuit - The most powerful fear me Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.87 Sqn RAF	No.87 Sqn RAF No. 87 Squadron was formed from a major part of D Squadron of the Central Flying School at Upavon on 1st September 1917. In April 1918, 87 Squadron was equipped with Dolphins when it was sent to France to fly in fighter and ground attack operations. This the squadron did to the end of the Great War, returning back to the UK in February 1919, and was disbanding on 24th June 1919. 87 Squadron was reformed on 15th March 1937 at Tangmere and was equipped with Hawker Furies until being re-equipped with the Gloster Gladiator in June when the squadron was based at Debden. In July 1938, 87 Squadron was again re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and with the outbreak of World War Two the squadron was moved to France as part of the Air Force supporting the British Expeditionary Force. 87 Squadron supplied air support to the troops on the Northern Front until their airfields were overrun by the German forces. The squadron was then moved to Yorkshire, moving again to south-west England in July for defence roles both day and night. The squadron was mainly used in a night fighter role during the Battle of Britain and remained mainly in that role until the end of 1942, while also beginning intruder missions in March 1941. The squadron was then moved to Gibraltar In November 1942 as part of the build up for the invasion of North Africa, remaining there until September 1943 when the squadron again moved to Sicily. In January 1944, the squadrons main role was to patrol over the Balkans form their base in Italy. In August 1944, the squadron returned to night duties performing fighter-bomber missions and in this role 87 squadron remained until the end of the war. On 30th December 1946, the squadron was disbanded. No.87 reformed on 1st January 1952 at Wahn as a night-fighter squadron in Germany, initially operating the Meteor jet fighter but by the end of 1957 the Meteor was replaced with the Javelin until the squadron was finally disbanded in January 1961. Pilots of 87 Sqn c.1941. Second from the right is P/O G. L. Roscoe. Many thanks to Flight Lieutenant Alex Thom DFC who supplied this photo.

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Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships. COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY  COPYRIGHT  LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.  NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.