John M. Thompson Jr.
CHRONOLOGY
From the Harrisburg Evening News, 1 July 1942:
LYKENS YOUTH ARRIVES SAFELY IN AFRICA
LYKENS — Mr. and Mrs. John M. Thompson have received word from their son, Corp. John M. Thompson Jr., telling of his safe arrival in Africa earlier this month. Corporal Thompson was the first boy from Lykens to join the United States Army Air Corps, having enlisted in Harrisburg on 20 January 1942. He is a former carrier of The Evening News and is a graduate of the Lykens High School.
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From the Danville Morning News, 6 August 1942:
17 PENNSYLVANIANS MISSING IN ACTION
[Notifications]… John M. Thompson, mother, Mae C. Thompson, Lykens.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 August 1942:
LYKENS SOLDIER MISSING IN ACTION
John M. Thompson, son of Mrs. Mae C. Thompson, 328 Market Street, Lykens, is officially listed among the Pennsylvania soldiers reported as missing in action. He was previously reported missing officially.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 8 August 1942:
LYKENS YOUTH LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION
A Lykens youth is listed among seventeen Pennsylvanians reported missing in action in the Far East and South Pacific by the War Department today.
Corp. John M. Thompson Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Thompson, 328 Market Street, Lykens, was the first from Lykens to enlist in the Army Air Forces, joining up in this city on 20 January 1942. He is a former carrier of The Evening News. A report that Thompson was missing had been previously been published in this newspaper after word reached his parents.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 16 January 1943:
Lykens Parents Get Citation Won by Son
Four days less than a year after their son, Corp. John M. Thompson Jr., enlisted in the Army Air Force, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Thompson, 328 Market Street, Lykens, received from Col. George G. Lundberg, commandant at the Middletown Air Depot, a Silver Star posthumous citation for gallantry in action. The son was reported missing in action in operations of the U. S. Army Air Force over the Mediterranean last June 15.
The citation was made by the War Department through Col. Lundberg, the Middletown Post being the closest air base to the youth’s home. The parents were guests of Col. Lundberg for a full dress parade and review of commissioned and enlisted personnel on the flying field adjoining the depot. The presentation ceremonies were held outside one of the hangars adjacent to the field.
Corporal Thompson, a graduate of Lykens High School in 1939 and a former athlete there, participated in an attack on the Italian fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea in June, less tat five months after his enlistment 20 January 1942. The attack was made by a fleet of heavy bombers.
The posthumous citation presented initially to the corporal’s mother, said “This attack was so successful that the fleet was forced to withdraw, permitting safe passage of a British convoy bound for Malta. On the return flight to his base, Corporal Thompson, an aerial gunner, manned his machine gun with such precision and in such perfect coordination with the remainder of the formation that intercepting enemy fighters were driven off with two casualties.”
The first Lykens boy to enlist in the air corps, Corporal Thompson was the second in that borough to be reported missing. Word that he was lost following the Mediterranean engagement was received 9 July from the War Department.
Corporal Thompson was trained at Chanute Field, Illinois, and the Tampa, Florida air base. He arrived in Africa early in June, presumably only a few days before he took part in the attack on the Italians and was reported missing.
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From the Mount Carmel Item, 16 January 1943:
Lykens Mother Given Son’s War Citation
HARRISBURG –UP– Mrs. May [sic] Thompson, mother of Corporal John M. Thompson, missing from the Middle East Air Forces since 9 July 1942, today received the Silver Star Citation for gallantry in action on behalf of her son.
The presentation was made at colorful ceremonies by Col. George C. Lundberg, commanding officer of Middletown Air Depot.
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From the Danville Morning News, 18 January 1943:
RECEIVES SON’S MEDAL
Harrisburg –UP–Mrs. Ray Thompson, of Lykens, mother of Corporal John M. Thompson, missing from the Middle East Air Forces since 9 July 1942, yesterday received the Silver Star Citation for gallantry in action on behalf of her son.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 6 February 1943:
Silver Star Citation of her son being pinned on Mrs. Thompson by Col. Henry H. Reily, in Middletown ceremonies. At the left of the picture is John M. Thompson Sr., the father of the missing hero. Officer behind Mrs. Thompson is Captain William Ferrell.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 24 November 1943:
Letters of administration were issued to Mrs. Mae C. Thompson, Lykens, in the $500 estate of her son, John M. Thompson Jr. The parents are the heirs.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 January 1944:
In Lykens the first war bonds were sold on the opening day of the drive to two Gold Star Mothers. The bonds were handled through the Budd Theatre Bond Agency, The two mothers are Mrs. John M. Thompson and Mrs. Arthur L. Helt. Corporal John M. Thompson Jr., was killed in action in the Middle East in June of 1942. He was an aerial gunner and engineer and was the first Lykens youth to enlist in the Army Air Corps. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
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See also:
World War II – Lykens and Wiconisco Homeoming Celebration, 1946