Thomas served in 100 Squadron. His Service number was 1590732. He died on January 1st 1944 in Lancaster III JB602. The crew were on a night operation to Brunswick, Germany, when their Lancaster was attacked by a JU88 night fighter. Thomas was the rear gunner and was mortally wounded during the attack. They had taken off at 17h13 and during the attack over the target, the Lancaster was very badly damaged. They crash landed on their return to Grimsby at 21h32. No other crew members were injured.
The Crew:
W/O P. R. M. Neal – pilot
Sgt R. Cull
Sgt. C. Storr
Sgt R.G. Evans
Sgt. H. A. T. Warner
Sgt. J. Mason
On the 1st January 1944, W/O Neal and his crew (Sanders was not the rear gunner – it was an airman called Smith – I suspect Sanders had no fixed crew and was new to the squadron ) was attacked by a JU88 over Berlin and his rear gunner that night was slightly injured. The Lancaster was also damaged. They had not been carrying Monica on board (Radar)
It was recorded in the squadrons operational diary – ‘The New Year opened with an attack by Lancasters on Berlin. The aircraft took off at midnight, and returned about dawn. Their route had been direct to the target, but the return journey was South of Leipzig and Bonn. The weather over the target was disappointing, there being 10/10ths cloud at 10-12,000ft, with a thin layer at 20,000ft. Conditions were similar over the route. Crews were unable to identify the markers (Pathfinder flares) and generally bombed on RD Flares, which were scattered.’
On the 14th January 1944 the squadron diary recorded : ‘14 of 100 Squadron Lancasters participated in an attack against Brunswick. Enemy fighters were over the target, in time to inflict considerable losses.
Take off was approximately 17h, which gave the aircraft sufficient time to be back at base before the moon rose.’
The German running commentary was heard following the progress of the bomber force, 40 miles from the English coast. Many German fighters entered the bomber stream, soon after the German frontier was crossed, near Bremen.
‘The attack developed shortly after 19h and Blind Bombing technique was used successfully, as the target was covered by cloud. Lancaster JB602 ‘A’ , was attacked by a night fighter JU88, shortly after bombing.’
Thomas was born March 21st 1924 in South Shields – his mother was Hannah Carr. His mother, born in 1897, tragically died in 1928 and was buried in Harton Cemetery. She had married William H Sander in South Shields in 1921.
In 1939 Thomas was living with his grandfather Thomas Stephen Carr (1869-1945) who was a retired joiner. His wife Ellen had predeceased him. Thomas’ sister Annie, born in 1922 was living at the same address of 459, Stanhope Road, South Shields. Before enlisting in the RAF, Thomas was a builders joiner.
His funeral was on January 19th at 3:30pm at West Harton Wesleyan Chapel.
He was buried in Harton Cemetery, Section 9, Grave 8369.
Source:
FindMyPast
The National Archives Kew
Written and Researched Dorothy Dickson Ramser November 2025
