Thomas Elsdon

Battle of Britain

In late August, No. 72 Squadron moved to Biggin Hill, just as the Luftwaffe escalated its operations against southern England.^[3] Elsdon destroyed a pair of Bf 110s to the southeast of Croydon on 1 September, and three days later, repeated this success, with two more Bf 110s shot down near Tunbridge Wells.^[2] Elsdon, who had been promoted to flight lieutenant the previous day, was subsequently shot down, parachuting out of his aircraft after that engagement.^[10][11] On 7 September, the Luftwaffe mounted large raids on London and No. 72 Squadron was one of the units scrambled in the late afternoon to intercept a raid involving over 300 bombers and in excess of 600 fighters. Elsdon succeeded in the shooting down of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter in the vicinity of Maidstone but his Spitfire was then attacked and he received serious shoulder and leg wounds. He made a forced landing at Biggin Hill. He was treated at Farnborough Hospital, but his wounds ended his involvement in the Battle of Britain. During his recuperation, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his successes of the previous weeks.^[2][12] The citation for his DFC, published in The London Gazette, read:

Since 31st August, 1940, this officer has destroyed six enemy aircraft, bringing his total to eight. On 4th September, 1940, when leading his squadron, his method of attack was successful in destroying nine enemy aircraft and probably three more. A few days later, he brought down the leading aircraft of a bomber formation. His record is outstanding and he has led his section and flight with distinction, showing complete disregard of danger and personal injury.

Circus offensive

Elsdon's recovery from his wounds took several months and it was not until July 1941 that he received his next operational posting. This was to No. 257 Squadron.^[2] His new unit, based at Coltishall, was equipped with Hawker Hurricane fighters and engaged both in offensive operations over the North Sea towards the Dutch coast and night fighter duties.^[14] On 24 July Elsdon damaged a Bf 109 near Mardyck, although he received minor wounds to his arm during the sortie, escorting Bristol Blenheim light bombers attacking railway facilities at Hazebrouck as part of the RAF's Circus offensive. On returning to England, he made a crash landing at Hawkinge.^[2][15]

Burma campaign

In August Elsdon was appointed commander of No. 136 Squadron. This was in the process of being formed at Kirton-in-Lindsey and, equipped with Hurricanes, became operational in September when it commenced shipping patrols along the East Coast. In November, the squadron was embarked for the Middle East but while in transit, the Japanese declared war and advanced into Burma. No. 136 Squadron was diverted to India but one flight, with Elsdon in charge, was detached to collect Hurricanes from Cairo and fly them onto Rangoon. From 23 January 1942, the flight, which had been reduced to four aircraft through attrition during the delivery flight from Cairo, was attached to No. 67 Squadron at Mingaladon and flew its first sortie the same day. It was heavily engaged during the early stages of the Burma campaign but eventually rejoined the rest of the squadron at Alipore near Calcutta in April.^{[1][16][17][18]}

Elsdon, who had been promoted to temporary squadron leader the previous December, damaged a Kawanishi H8K flying boat over the Bay of Bengal on 21 August.^[2][19] The following month he was appointed wing leader of No. 165 Wing, based at Dum Dum, and over the next twelve months commanded a series of wings in Southeast Asia: No. 293 Wing from October to February 1943, No. 169 Wing until October and then No. 185 Wing until November. At that time, he returned to No. 165 Wing, which he commanded during its service in the Arakan, including the campaigns in the region in early 1944.^[1][2]

Later war service

In July 1944 Elsdon was rested from operations with a posting to the staff at the headquarters of Eastern Air Command in Calcutta. Two months later he was repatriated to the United Kingdom. He was mentioned in despatches for a second time on 1 January 1945.^[20] The final months of his war service was spent serving with Transport Command and, in April, he was appointed the commanding officer of the RAF station at Boreham.^[1][2]

By the end of the war, Elsdon was credited with having destroyed nine aircraft, two of which were shared with other pilots, plus a tenth that was unconfirmed. He also claimed two aircraft as damaged.^[2]