Career
Thompson served two and a half years in the ground forces in both the East and West African campaigns against the Germans. He then transferred into the Royal Flying Corps in August 1917. In April 1918, he joined 84 Squadron on the Western Front as a Royal Aircraft Factory Southeast.5a pilot.
He spent June and July in hospital.
Then, on 4 August 1918, he destroyed an Albatros Doctorate.V. On the 7th, drove down a Pfalz Doctorate.III out of control.
On the 11th, destroyed a Fokker Doctorate.VII. Then, for his last three victories, he turned balloon buster. On 4 September, he teamed with Sidney Highwood to destroy a German observation balloon. The next day, Thompson destroyed another.
He managed to struggle back to base despite his wounds.