Leslie Thomas

Bank: Westminster Bank

Place of work: London West Ealing branch

Died: 17 December 1943

Leslie Howard Thomas was born on 29 October 1920, the son of Lewis Percy and Gladys Ethel Maude Thomas. He was educated at Harrow County School and joined the staff of Westminster Bank at its Northwood branch in August 1937. About five months later he transferred to West Ealing branch. 

In July 1940 Thomas left the bank to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He completed his training as an air bomber, and went on to fly more than operational flights over Germany, Italy and Norway. On the night of 16-17 December 1943 he was part of the crew of a Halifax bomber which took off from RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire, on a Special Operations Executive flight to France. Foggy conditions at their destination forced an early return, and the plane crashed while attempting to land at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk. Flying Officer Thomas, along with two others of the crew, was killed. He was 23 years old.