M Thomas_P

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal M Thomas

Meredith                      b: 6 Jul 1892                r: 18 Apr 1946                        d: 20 May 1984

CSI - 1 Jan 1946  CBE - 1 Jan 1941, DFC - 10 Oct 1922, AFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 19 Apr 1921, MiD - 28 Oct 1921.

(Army): -  Rflmn: 1 Sep 1914, 2nd Lt (WR): 2 Dec 1915, 2nd Lt (RFC): 29 Mar 1917, (T) Lt (WR):  1 Jun 1917, Lt (WR):  21 Jul 1917, (T) Capt (RFC): 29 Sep 1917.

(RAF): -(T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918],  Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1926, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1934,  Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1938, Act A/Cdre: 7 Aug 1940,  (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1940,  Act AVM: 2 Aug 1943 - 22 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, AVM: Retained.

1 Sep 1914:         Rifleman (2659), The Queen’s Westminster Rifles (16th Battalion, London Regiment).

 1 Dec 1915:        Discharged on appointment to a commission

 2 Dec 1915:        Officer, 6th Battalion, The Welsh Regiment.

16 Oct 1916:        U/T Pilot, No 1 School of Military Aeronautics, Reading

 2 Jan 1917:         U/T Pilot, No 12 Reserve Sqn, RFC

29 Mar 1917:      U/T Pilot, No 10 Reserve Sqn, RFC

29 Mar 1917:      Also given as date for graduating from CFS and regraded as Flying Officer

 4 Apr 1917:        Attended Course, No 2 Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunnery

 5 May 1917:       Embarked for France

 5 May 1917:       Pilot, No 41 Sqn RFC

30 Sep 1917:       Flight Commander, No 41 Sqn, RFC. (FE8, DH5, SE5A – Western Front)

11 Dec 1917:       Returned to Home Establishment

12 Jan 1918:        Awaiting disposal, HQ Eastern Training Brigade, attached No 85 Sqn

16 Jan 1918:        Instructor, No 42 Training Sqn RFC

27 Jan 1918:        Instructor, No 74 Sqn RFC

14 Mar 1918:       Instructor, No 56 Training Sqn RFC/RAF

xx Apr - xx May 1918:       Attended Flying Instructors' Course

15 Jul 1918:         Instructor, No 41 Training Depot Station

23 Apr 1919:       Flight Commander, No 43 Sqn (Snipe)

 7 Aug 1919:       Returned to Home Establishment

29 Aug 1919:       Returned to Home Establishment

29 Aug 1919:       Awaiting disposal, HQ Midland Area

24 Oct 1919:       Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (Aeroplane). 

13 Feb 1920:        Awaiting disposal, HQ Mesopotamian Wing.

13 Feb 1920:       Flight Commander, No 6 Sqn. (RE8, Bristol F2B – Mosul)

May/Jun 1921:     Flight Commander, 'A' Flight, No 30 Sqn. (DH9A – Baghdad)

 5 Nov 1922:       Supernumerary, RAF depot.

 1 May 1923:       Attended RAF Staff College.

23 Apr 1924:       Successfully completed Staff College Course and award Symbol 'psa'

23 Apr 1924:       Temporary duty, Directorate of Staff Duties, Air Ministry (pending posting)

 5 May 1924:       SD 2, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.

5 - 14 Jun 1928:        Attended Flying Refresher Course

 1 Sep 1928:        Flying Instructor, RAF (Cadet) College.

23 Nov - 2 Dec 1931:        Attended Higher Commanders Course, School of Army Co-operation

 7 Dec 1931:         Placed on half pay list, scale A (pending embarkation)

24 Dec 1931:       Attended Army Staff College, Quetta.

18 Dec 1933:        Supernumerary, HQ RAF India (pending posting)

 1 Jan 1934:          Air Staff, HQ RAF India

11 Jan 1937:         Supernumerary, RAF Depot (Leave to 1 May 1937)

 2 May 1937:        Supernumerary, HQ Armament Group (pending posting to No 6 ATC)

24 May 1937:      Officer Commanding, No 6 Armament Training Camp/Station, Warmwell.

 6 May 1938:        Supernumerary, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

16 May 1938:       SASO, HQ No 5 (Bomber) Group.

 7 Aug 1940:        Director of Technical Training.

24 Dec 1941:       SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.

 2 Aug 1943:        AOC, No 23 (Training) Group.

 8 Mar 1944:        AOC, AHQ India.

 5 Jan 1946:          Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit (Disembarkation leave - 8-21 Jan 1946)

22 Jan 1946:         Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit

In WW1,by the time he was returned to the home establishment as a instructor he had achieved five confirmed victories.

Recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

"THOMAS, Meredith, F/L, AFC

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  During 1921 this officer has flown over 400 hours in Iraq under active service conditions.  In addition to leading many reconnaissances and bomb raids, he has been in command of a detached Flight and has consistently shown a very high standard of courage and power of leadership, which have contributed largely to the success of every operation on which he has been engaged."

Published in the London Gazette as "For distinguished services rendered during active service operations in Iraq during 1920-1921"

(Source – Air 30/49)

This page was last updated on 16/03/25^©

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