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Brigadier
General
James H. Thompson
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James
H. Thompson was born in Lansing, Michigan on the 6th
of June 1916. He graduated from high school in Packer,
Illinois in 1934. In civilian life, between the years
1935 and 1939, he was employed as a shipping clerk in
Cleveland, Ohio.
From
February of 1938 to June of 1939, he served as an
enlisted airplane mechanic in the 108th Observation
Squadron, Illinois National Guard. In June, 1939 he
enlisted as a flying cadet, and was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant in the CIC-ORC (Air Corps-Officer's
Reserve Corp) upon completion of his training on 23
March 1940. He was ordered to active duty on the following
day. From 24 March 1939 until 25 September 1940, he
was a pilot in the 99th Bomb Squadron at Mitchell
Field, New York. On 26 September 1940 he became a
Flight Commander in the 2nd Squadron, 22nd Bombardment
Group (M), Langley Field, Virginia. He received an
AUS (Army of the U.S.) promotion to First Lieutenant
on 1 November 1941. He was elevated in grade to Captain,
AUS-AC, 23 April 1942, and to Captain, AUS, on 1 June
1942.
From
15 May 1941 to 23 December 1942, he acted as Operations
Officer for the 40th Bomb Squadron, 13th BG (M), Orlando
Air Base, Florida. From 24 December 1942 until 30
April 1943 he was assistant Operations Officer in
Headquarters Squadron, 25th Antisubmarine Wing at
Mitchell Field, New York. On 7 January 1943 he was
promoted to Major, AUS-AC, and on 25 February of the
same year to Major (AUS). From May, 1943 Major Thompson
was stationed at Westover Field in the 24th Antisubmarine
Sqn. From 1 October until 9 December 1943, he was
Commanding Officer of the 843rd Bomb Squadron, Kearney,
Nebraska and MacDill Field, Florida. From 20 March
1944 to 23 July 1944, he was Unit Operations Officer
of Headquarters, MacDill field Replacement Training
Unit (H).
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Lt
Col James H. Thompson
Operations Officer
Guam Nov 1945
B-29 # 44-69756
"City of Binghamton"
"Silver Streak (P-23)
Photo Courtsey of Richard Kelso,
son in-law, J. H. Thompson |
From
24 July 1944 until 4 August 1944, he was at the 314th
Bomb Wing (VH), Peterson Field, Colorado Springs,
Colorado, awaiting assignment. On 5 August 1944, he
was assigned as Group Operations Officer in Headquarters,
39th Bomb Group (VH), Salina, Kansas. On 8 December
1944 he was promoted to Lt Colonel. By way of Harrington
AAF, Kansas and Mather Field, California, Colonel
Thompson arrived with the first contingent of 39th
BG B-29 aircraft at North Field, Guam on 24 May 1945.
As acting Command Pilot he flew nine combat missions
with the group, and in addition, led one group mission,
receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze
Star for his efforts. Along with other staff members,
Colonel Thompson flew the last 39th BG B-29 out of
North Field on 29 October 1945.
After
returning to the United States, Colonel Thompson opted
to remain on active duty and accepted a regular commission
in the USAAF in June of 1946. He spent the majority
of his service in the latter 1940's at FTWAAF (later
Carswell AFB) as Director of Operations. In February
1951 he was promoted to full Colonel and transferred
to Rabat, Morocco to Headquarters Squadron, 5th Air
Division. His wife, the former Betty Jane Cooper,
and his four daughters accompanied him to Rabat.
In
October, 1952, Colonel Thompson returned to the US,
and was assigned to the 373rd Bombardment Squadron
at Hunter AFB, GA. During his tour at this base he
transitioned to the B-47 aircraft. He transferred
from Hunter in March of 1955 To Barksdale AFB, LA
as Director of Operations.
After
his tour at Barksdale AFB, Colonel Thompson was assigned
as Wing Commander of the 19th Bombardment Wing at
Homestead AFB, FL. In 1960, he commanded the Titan
Missile activation at Lowry AFB near Denver, CO. During
the period of September, 1962 to September, 1965,
Colonel Thompson was Director of Materiel, Headquarters,
2nd Air Force, at Minot AFB, ND.
He
was promoted to Brigadier General in 1965 and spent
eighteen months in South Viet Nam as Deputy Chief
of Staff for Materiel, 7th Air Force, where he oversaw
the building of four new runways and the upgrading
of six others plus supervision of Air Force materiel
activities.
Returning
to the United States, General Thompson took command
of the 19th Air Division at Carswell AFB. He retired
from the USAF in 1968 and accepted the position of
vice president-Operations and Personnel for Leonards
Department Stores, a division of Tandy Corporation.
He remained there for fifteen years.
Prepared
by Richard Kelso, son in-law
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