THOMAS, FS Edwin Horton (R92293) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.218 Squadron - Award effective 7 May 1943 as per London Gazette dated 14 May 1943 and AFRO 1078/43 dated 11 June 1943. Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, 3 June 1915. Home in New Westminster, British Columbia (educated to High School Entrance plus four years of commercial college; employed as stenographer); enlisted in Vancouver, 19 February 1941 and posted to No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon. To No.32 SFTS, Moose Jaw, 29 March 1941 (guard duty); to No.2 WS, Calgary, 25 May 1941. Promoted LAC, 26 June 1941; to No.3 BGS, Macdonald, 11 October 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 8 November 1941. To “Y” Depot, Halifax, 10 November 1941. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, 26 December 1941. To No.2 Signal School, Yatesbury, 20 January 1942. To No.3 AOS, 14 March 1942; to No.20 OTU, 21 April 1942; to No.1651 Conversion Unit, 22 July 1942; to No.218 Squadron, 7 September 1942. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 October 1942. To No.1651 Conversion Unit, 2 April 1943. Attached to No.1 Air Armament School, 17 April to 8 June 1943. Commissioned 3 July 1943 (J18090). Posted from No.1651 Conversion Unit to No.514 Squadron, 25 November 1943 Missing, presume dead, 14 January 1944 Lancaster LL685, No.514 Squadron; crew consisted of 46091 A/S/L E.F. Sly, DFM, AFM, captain; J18090 P/O E.M. Thomas, DFM, Air Bomber; J16399 F/O J.L. Martin, Navigator; NZ405487 P/O W.L. Harvey, DFM, WOP/AIR; J17725 F/O J.A. Sneddon, DFM, Mid-Upper Gunner; 155354 F/O F.G. Rocher, DFM, rear gunner and 52159 F/O R.F. Boulter, Flight Engineer. Photo PL-19711 shows a group of Western Canadian personnel attending Buckingham Palace investiture - F/L E.H. Thomas (New Westminster), Warrant Officer E.A. Taylow (Vancouver), P/O R.A. Shannon (Winnipeg), P/O E.C. Stewart (Camrose, Alberta), F/O D.R. Pearce (Edmonton), Warrant Officer W.G. Evan (Makinak, Manitoba, who accompanied Pearce) and FS D.J. McCoy (Carruthers, Saskatchewan). Photo PL-19712 taken 5 November 1943 shows the following after investiture at Buckingham Palace: Front Row” Warrant Officer W.G. Evan of Makinak, Manitoba (no award but accompanying friends), FS H.J. O’Connor DFM of Napanee, Sergeant D.V. Smith DFM of Toronto, Warrant Officer E.A. Taylor DFM of Vancouver, FS D.J. McCoy DFM of Carruthers, Saskatchewan, P/O F.R. Zulauf DFM of Milverton, Ontario; Back Row: P/O R.B. Charters DFM of Brampton, Ontario, P/O E.H. Thomas DFM of New Westminster, P/O R. Dorland DFM of Islington, Ontario, F/L C.D. Perkins DFC of Fonthill, Ontario, P/O D.R. Pearce DFM of Edmonton, P/O E.C. Stewart DFM of Camrose, Alberta, and P/O R.A. Shannon DFM of Winnipeg. Flight Sergeant Thomas, as bomb aimer, has consistently shown the greatest keenness and determination to place his bombs accurately on the target. He has taken part in attacks on many of the enemy's heavily defended areas displaying exceptional coolness in the face of the fiercest opposition. NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8950 has the original recommendation, drafted 16 March 1943 when he had flown 28 sorties (170 operational hours) as follows: 14 September 1942 - Dusseldorf (4.20) 16 September 1942 - Kampen (3.25) 18 September 1942 - Frisians (4.35) 23 September 1942 - Frisians (5.00) 1 October 1942 - Herrenwyk (8.20) 2 October 1942 - Krefeld (3.30) 5 October 1942 - Aachen (5.20) 6 October 1942 - Osnabruck (4.30) 12 October 1942 - Kattegat (6.30) 24 October 1942 - Milan (6.20) 26 October 1942 - Gironde (6.35) 6 November 1942 - St.Etienne (6.40) 9 November 1942 - Hamburg (6.00) 16 November 1942 - Bayonne (9.15) 20 November 1942 - Turin (7.10) 8 December 1942 - Stettin Bay (8.00) 16 December 1942 - Deipholz (4.20) 8 January 1943 - Heligioland Bight (5.25) 27 January 1943 - Stettin Bay (7.40) 3 February 1943 - Lorient (5.00) 7 February 1943 - Lorient (6.00) 13 February 1943 - Hamburg (5.50) 14 February 1943 - Cologne (4.30) 16 February 1943 - Lorient (5.15) 18 February 1943 - Gironde (7.15) 19 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven (5.20) 10 March 1943 - Gironde (7.00) 11 March 1943 - Stuttgart (6.40) Flight Sergeant Thomas is a Bomber Aimer in No.218 Squadron who has been on operations since September 1942. Throughout his operational tour, this airman has shown the greatest keenness and determination to place his bombs accurately on the target. His tour has included many of the most strongly defended targets, and he has won a reputation for refusing to be distressed by the fiercest opposition. His coolness has been exemplary, and he has frequently brought back photographs of the aiming point. He is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. The website “Lost Bombers” has the following on his final sortie. Lancaster LL685, No.514 Squadron (JI-G2), target Brunswick, 14/15 January 1944. LL685 was a Mark II (Hercules engines) and was delivered to No.514 Squadron from No.115 Squadron on 24 December 1943. Also wore the markings A2-G. Took part in no operations with No.115 Squadron but the following with No.514 Squadron: Berlin, 29/30 December 1943 (as A2GG); thereafter as JI- G2 to Berlin, 1/2 January 1944; Berlin, 2/3 January 1944; Brunswick, 14/15 January 1944 (lost). When lost this aircraft had a total of 32 hours. LL685 was one of two No.514 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation; the other was LL679. Airborne at 1706 hours, 14 January 1944 from Waterbeach. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 1905 800 metres west of Bennebostel, 5 km S of Celle, where all were buried 15 January 1944. Crew (all killed) were S/L E.F.Sly, DFC; F/O P.F.Boulter; F/O J.L.Martin, RCAF; P/O E.H.Thomas, DFM, RCAF; P/O W.L. Harvey, DFM, RNZAF (DFC awarded 16 March 1943 for services with No.149 Squadron); F/O J.A.Sneddon, DFM, RCAF; P/O F.G.Rosher, DFM.