Pilot Officer Hugh Conn Thompson (52755) served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Known as Hugo, he was the only son of Hugh Thompson and Annie Thompson (née Conn) of Carnalea, Co. Down. Hugh served in the Royal Navy and with His Majesty's Coastguard.
On 22nd July 1942, the Belfast News Letter reported that Thompson had completed training with the United States Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, USA. Afterward, he returned to England and joined the Royal Air Force with a rank of Leading Aircraftman. At the time, the newspaper gave his address as 17 Strandview Street, Stranmillis Road, Belfast.
He died on 22nd June 1943 aged 21 years old on Avro Lancaster LM330 KM-Q flying with RAF 44 Squadron on a mission over Krefeld, Germany. The crew took off from RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire, and disappeared over the coast of the Netherlands. Two possible claims match the Lancaster’s disappearance; either that of Hauptmann Rudolf Sigmund of 10/NJG at 0246hrs 50 km west of Callantsoog or that of Major Helmut Lent of Stab IV/NJG 1 at 0309hrs 60km west of Schagen. Both Luftwaffe planes were Messerschmitt Bf 110s.
Remembering the crew of Lancaster LM330
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlow | James Henry | Sergeant | RAFVR 624543. Missing Presumed Killed. | |
| England | Norman Nicholas | Sergeant | RAFVR 1130657. Missing Presumed Killed. From Portadown, Co. Armagh. | |
| Harrison | Leonard Arthur | Sergeant | RAFVR 1386784. Missing Presumed Killed. | |
| McGrath | Louis Renton | Sergeant | RAFVR 1130425. Missing Presumed Killed. From Belfast. | |
| Metcalfe | Norman | Sergeant | RAFVR 1477557. Missing Presumed Killed. | |
| Mindel | Samuel David | Sergeant | RAFVR 914451. Missing Presumed Killed. | |
| Thompson | Hugh Conn | Pilot Officer | RAF 52755. Missing Presumed Killed. From Carnalea, Co. Down. | |
| Welsh | Lawrence Sinclair | Pilot Officer | RAFVR 149518. Missing Presumed Killed. |
Hugh Conn Thompson has no known grave. His name is on Panel 133 of the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. His name is also on the war memorial of Down High School, Downpatrick, Co. Down.