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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Douglas Osborne Thomas

In memory of:

Pilot Officer Douglas Osborne Thomas

May 13, 1944
Overseas, Belgium

Military Service

Service Number:

J/87559

Age:

22

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

640 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information

Born:

May 31, 1921
Bristol, United Kingdom

Enlistment:

October 10, 1941
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Harold E. Thomas, and of Agnes T. Thomas, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 460 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY
Belgium

Grave Reference:

Coll. grave IVa. E. 36-42.

Location:

Antwerp lies 57 Km north of Brussels on the E19 and 59 km north east of Gent on the E17 motorway. The cemetery itself is located in Wilrijk, a suburb of Antwerp. From the Bistplein in front of the railway station in Wilrijk follow the Kleinsteenweg for 300 M until you arrive at the ring road. Turn right and follow the ring road for 100 M to the first set of traffic lights and turn left. Go under the flyover and continue straight on over the dual carrageway into Jules Moretus Lei. Follow this street for 1 kilometre and the entrance to the Municipal Cemetery is on your left. After entering the cemetery follow the Commission signs to the three Commission plots at the far end of the cemetery. Alternatively ask for their location at the office within the cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS
    Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Id card– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Id card
    Id card – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Circumstances of death– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Circumstances of death
    Circumstances of death – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Letter
    Letter – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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    Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS
    Photo of DOUGLAS OSBORNE THOMAS – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping
  • Newspaper clipping– P/O Thomas was Pilot and served on 640 (RAF) Squadron. Halifax LW 499 was airborne 2201 on 12 May 1944 from their home base at Leconfield, Yorkshire, on a mission to attack the railway yards at Hasslet, Belgium. Three of the Squadron’s Halifaxes were lost. LW499 was shot down by a night-fighter. Those killed were buried 15 May 1944 in Antwerpen-Deurne and reburied in the Schoonselhof Cemetery. One member of the crew, Sgt. J. S. Scott, survived and was taken Prisoner of War. Also killed was the 25-year old navigator, F/O John I. Atkins from Newmarket, ON; F/S G. H. Rose, RAAF, and 3 RAF members: Sgt. C. G. Lee, Sgt. D. S. Campbell, and Sgt. L. R. Gee. Information from //lostbombers.co.uk; CWGC

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – P/O Thomas was Pilot and served on 640 (RAF) Squadron. Halifax LW 499 was airborne 2201 on 12 May 1944 from their home base at Leconfield, Yorkshire, on a mission to attack the railway yards at Hasslet, Belgium. Three of the Squadron’s Halifaxes were lost. LW499 was shot down by a night-fighter. Those killed were buried 15 May 1944 in Antwerpen-Deurne and reburied in the Schoonselhof Cemetery. One member of the crew, Sgt. J. S. Scott, survived and was taken Prisoner of War. Also killed was the 25-year old navigator, F/O John I. Atkins from Newmarket, ON; F/S G. H. Rose, RAAF, and 3 RAF members: Sgt. C. G. Lee, Sgt. D. S. Campbell, and Sgt. L. R. Gee. Information from //lostbombers.co.uk; CWGC
  • Newspaper clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Douglas Osborne Thomas is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Douglas Osborne Thomas is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Douglas Osborne Thomas is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer Douglas Osborne Thomas is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Cemetery
    Cemetery – View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 & 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Cemetery
    Cemetery – Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 & 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Grave Marker– Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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