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War Memorial
Australia

Husband of Perla Doris Archiblad

Plane was a Halifax 11  JB865 crashed hear Plokington, Yorkshire. 77 Squadron

Thomas Archibald was born at Hamilton in Scotland on 11 September 1910 the son, and second eldest child,of John and Janet Archibald. His sister, Mary, had come to Australia in 1927 and the rest of the family followed in 1928. He is listed as a salesmanon his enlistment papers and his religion declared as Presbyterian. Thomas married Perla Doris Durward (née Campbell) on 27 December 1941at Scots Church, Russell Street, Melbourne by Rev James Burns. Witnesses at the wedding were Franklin Cooper and D. Mitchell.

Thomas enlisted at No 2 RecruitingCentre, Sydney, 20 July 1941and was immediately sent to 2 ITS and thena few days later moved to 10 EFTS at Temora in NSW. He was then posted to1 SFTS at Point Cook, Victoria on 13 December, 1941 having re-mustered to air crew (P5)on 8 September. He received his Flying Badge 27February 1942 having flown DH82 and Oxford aircraft.Scots Church, MelbourneThomas was then discharged from the RAAF, under AFR 115, on 29 April 1942 on being granted a commission and became a Pilot Officer the following day.He embarked at Sydney 16 June 1942on attachment to the RAFarriving UnitedKingdom 24 August 1942. On arrival in the UK he proceeded to Australia House for temporary duty. Thomas then trained with various units including 6AFU, 20 OTU before moving to Driffield on 3rdMarch 1943.He had been appointed Flying Officer 30 October 1942.Posted to 77 Squadron RAF 7 April 1943 to commence flying duties on 28April and appointed an Acting Flight Lieutenant the same day. The missing days are accounted for as Thomas was granted leave until 28 April. The same month he was awarded a DFC, the recommndation for which follows:

This officer and crew were detailed to attack ESSEN on the night of 30 April/1 st May 1943, in Halifax II. JB865 J. Target area was reached at hours, and bombing run was executed according to Flight Plan at hours, Blind Bombing Technique being successfully employed. Bombs were released from 19,000 feet, during the process of which the aircraft was repeatedly hit by heavy flak, one burst rendering the starboard inner engine unserviceable, which was immediately feathered. The aircraft was off target with bomb doors closed, but upon inspection of the bomb bays it was discovered that a 1,000 lb GP bomb had hung up. The aircraft was immediately turned to port, and the target again attacked on the correct heading, in accordance with Operation Order, sky markers again being bombed from 17,000 feet, and the bomb successfully released. F/O Archibald reached base, and made an excellent landing without further incident, but an inspection of the air craft revealed extensive damage by flak to the tail wheel, fuselage, starboard mainplane, port elevator, and port outer mainplane, which together with the unserviceable engine gives added prominence to the courage and tenacity of this officer in pressing his attack in the face of very considerably difficulty. Having lost one engine at a critical stage of the operation, it would have been permissible to have released the suspended bomb on a reciprocal course, but this Officer s devotion to duty was of such an high standard, that maintenance of aim on the primary target was pressed home with the utmost vigour and determination. I strongly recommend that this gallantry in action be recognised by an immediate award of the D.F.C. Date: 2 nd May A G Lowe Wing Commander, Commanding No 77 Squadron R.A.F. REMARKS BY STATION COMMANDER This Australian Officer s devotion to duty was in the best traditions of the Service, when with a disabled a/c he pressed home a second attack on his primary target, despite suffering considerable damage from enemy fire during the first bombing run. The fact that his flight back to Base was without incident speaks highly of his excellent airmanship in view of extensive damage to his a/c. I strongly recommend that his determination and devotion to duty be recognised by the immediate award of the D.F.C. Date 4 th May 43 Group Captain Commanding R.A.F. Elvington REMARKS BY BASE COMMANDER This Officer displayed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order. He is an Officer who will lead and inspire others. Recommended for the immediate award of the D.F.C. Date: 6 th May, 1943 G.A. WALKER Commodore, Commanding R.A.F. Base, Pocklington REMARKS BY AIR OFFICER COMMANDING This Australian Officer, just starting his first tour of Operations, has shown the courage and determination so necessary in a successful Bomber Captain. He has set a fine example and I strongly recommend the immediate award of the D.F.C. Date: 8 th May, Carr Air Vice Marshal Air Officer Commanding No 4 Group R.A.F.

On 13 May 1943 Halifax II 865 returning from Duisburg after dropping bombs wasunable to close the bomb doors thus reducing their speed, after a series of unfortunate events the plane crashed just out of Bishop Wilton, near Pocklington RAF Base,at 4.20 am English time. Thomas was killed in the crash alongwith Sergeant Gerard Scully, Bomb Aimer.The remaining crew were all injured -Sergeant C Hewitson, Sergeant J Gerry, Sergeant George Marlow, Sergeant Frederick K Smith and Sergeant JCurrie.Thomas was laid to rest in St Catherine’s Churchyard in the pretty village of Barmby Moor, Yorkshire, the ceremony being presided over bythe RAF Chaplain and the Rev A E Sturdy, Vicar of Barmby. (Row C –Grave 8). There are 54 airmen from WWII and one from WWI buried at St Catherine’s.

DFC

One night in April 1943, this officer captained an aircraft which attacked Essen. Whilst over the target area the aircraft was repeatedly attacked by fire from the ground defences, and one engine was put out of action. It was then discovered that one bomb had failed to release. Displaying great determination, Flying Officer Archibald made a second run over the target and released the bomb successfully. His aircraft sustained much damage but he flew it back to base with one engine unserviceable. This officer displayed great courage and outstanding devotion to duty.Promulgated in The London Gazette –Third Supplement -Tuesday 25 May, 1943, page 2320Flying Officer Archibald’s wife, Perla, received his DFC from the Governor General of Australia, Lord Gowrie, at Admiralty House, Sydney on 16 June, 1944.Perla passed away at the Concord (NSW) Repatriation Hospital in Sydney in November 1955.

https://docplayer.net/57197404-77-squadron-raf-raaf-airmen-killed-whilst-on-active-service-with-77-squadron-raf-world-war-ii.html

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HONOURS AND AWARDS“IMMEDIATE AWARD’

Particulars of meritorious service

This officer and crew were detailed to attack ESSEN on the night of 30 April/1stMay 1943, in Halifax II. JB865 “J”. Target area was reached at 02.46 hours, and bombing run was executed according to Flight Plan at 02.56 hours, Blind Bombing Technique being successfully employed. Bombs were releasedm 19,000 feet, during the process of which the aircraft was repeatedly hit by heavy flak, one burst rendering the starboard inner engine unserviceable, which was immediately feathered. The aircraft was off target with bomb doors closed, but upon inspection of the bomb bays it was discovered that a 1,000 lb GP bomb had “hung up”. The aircraft was immediately turned to port, and the target again attacked on the correct heading, in accordance with Operation Order, sky markers again being bombed from 17,000 feet, and the bomb successfully released. F/O Archibald reached base, and made an excellent landing without further incident, but an inspection of the air craft revealed extensive damage by flak to the tail wheel, fuselage, starboard mainplane, port elevator, and port outer mainplane, which together with the unserviceable engine gives added prominence to the courage and tenacity of this officer in pressing his attack in the face of very considerably difficulty. Having lost one engine at a critical stage of the operation, it would have been permissible to have released the suspended bomb on a reciprocal course, but this Officer’s devotion to duty was of such an high standard, that maintenance of aim on the primary target was pressed home with the utmost vigour and determination. I strongly recommend that this gallantry in action be recognised by an immediate award of the D.F.C.Date: 2ndMay 1943. AG LoweWing Commander, CommandingNo 77 Squadron R.A.F.REMARKS BY STATION COMMANDERThis Australian Officer’s devotion to duty was in the best traditions of the Service, when with a disabled a/c he pressed home a second attack on his primary target, despite suffering considerable damage from enemy fire during the first bombing run. The fact that his flight back to Base was without incident speaks highly of his excellent airmanship in view of extensive damage to his a/c. I strongly recommend that his determination and devotion to duty be recognised by the immediate award of the D.F.C.Date 4thMay 43 Group Captain Commanding R.A.F. ElvingtonREMARKS BY BASE COMMANDERThis Officer displayed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order. He is an Officer who will lead and inspire others.Recommended for the immediate award of the D.F.C.Date: 6thMay, 1943 G.A. WALKERCommodore, Commanding R.A.F. Base, PocklingtonREMARKS BY AIR OFFICER COMMANDINGThis Australian Officer, just starting his first tour of Operations, has shown the courage and determination so necessary in a successful Bomber Captain. He has set a fine example and I strongly recommend the immediate award of the D.F.C.Date: 8thMay, 1943 .....CarrAir Vice MarshalAir Officer CommandingNo 4 Group R.A.F.