John Thomson (RAF officer)

Charles John Thomson
Born	(1941-06-07)7 June 1941
Died	RAF Halton Hospital
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1959–1994
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	Allied Forces North-Western Europe Strike Command Support Command No. 1 Group RAF Bruggen No. 41 Squadron
Battles/wars	Aden Emergency
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Air Force Cross

Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles John Thomson GCB, CBE, AFC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (7 June 1941 – 10 July 1994), usually Sir John Thomson, was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.

RAF service

Educated at Campbell College in Belfast, Thomson entered RAF College, Cranwell in 1959 and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1962.

He was appointed Officer Commanding No.41 Squadron in 1976, Personal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff in 1979 and Station Commander at RAF Bruggen in 1981. He went on to be Director of Defence Concepts at the Ministry of Defence in 1985, Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in 1987 and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in 1989. He became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Support Command in 1991 and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Strike Command in 1992.

In July 1994 he became the first Commander in Chief of the new NATO command, Allied Forces North-Western Europe. However, only days after taking up this post he became ill and was rushed to hospital at RAF Halton where he died aged 53.

Family

In 1972 he married Jan Bishop; they had two daughters, and one daughter who died aged 3. And then went on to have 3 more children who all died in a plane crash.

Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword

The Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword commemorates him. Sir John was a leading member and strong supporter of the Air Squadron and regularly flew cadets on Air Squadron Day and on Air Experience Flights. The Sword is awarded each year to the cadet judged to be the Best in the CCF (RAF). Cadets, who will commonly be the most senior in their schools contingent will have to demonstrate the highest level of CCF commitment and involvement, during their time in the CCF and will also be highly regarded within the school/college. Nominations are called for in November of each year. Of those recommended by either their Contingent Commander or RAF Section Commander, six would be chosen for a final interview with Wing Commander CCF in either late January or early February as a result of which a winner would be chosen. Results are made public in late March and the Sword is awarded at the Air Squadron Day celebrations at the end of the summer term. All six finalists, who would all attend the parade on Air Squadron Day, would be awarded a Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Foundation Medal for CCF Achievement in recognition of getting that far.

Other honours

On 10 July 2014, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the United States Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing, and to honour his extraordinary life and service to the Royal Air Force.

References

Military offices
Preceded by Michael Simmons	Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group 1987–1989	Succeeded by Andrew Wilson
Preceded by Michael Simmons	Assistant Chief of the Air Staff 1989–1991	Succeeded by Timothy Garden
Preceded by Sir Michael Graydon	Commander-in-Chief Support Command 1991–1992	Succeeded by Sir John Willis
Preceded by Sir Michael Graydon	Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1992–1994	Succeeded by Sir Richard Johns
New title Command established	Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces North West Europe 1994	Succeeded by Sir Richard Johns