First photo of newest of the Few

More details of the newest Royal Air Force airman to be added to the ranks of 'the Few' are being collated by historians following the recent announcement of his eligibility for the Battle of Britain clasp.

It was the discovery of his logbook by author Mark Hillier that proved that Ronald Thomson, a sergeant (later flight lieutenant) serving with No 616 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, should be numbered amongst those who helped keep this country safe from a Nazi invasion.

Hillier discovered that the airman had taken part in searching for an unidentified enemy aircraft (known as an ‘X’ Raid) between the qualifying dates of 10 July and 31 October 1940, a sortie that confirmed his eligibility for the Clasp.

Hillier has since obtained more information and photographs from Ronald Thomson's family, material that will be used by Geoff Simpson FRHistS, consulting editor, in preparing an entry for Sgt Thomson in the Trust's digital Database of the Few.

The new material, which includes the photograph below of his marriage to Dorothy Hogan, shows that he went on to serve operationally in north Africa and Malta and as an instructor in South Africa. He was also awarded the DFC. Sgt Thomson died in 2002 aged 82.