Thomas Dalton-Morgan

Thomas Frederick Dalton-Morgan
DSO DFC* OBE
Born (1917-03-23)23 March 1917
Cardiff, Wales
Died 18 September 2004(2004-09-18) (aged 87)
Australia
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1935–1952
Rank Wing Commander
Service number 37415
Unit No. 22 Squadron RAF
Commands held No. 43 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars

World War II:

Awards Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
OBE

Wing Commander Thomas Frederick Dalton-Morgan DSO DFC* OBE (23 March 1917 – 18 September 2004) was a British RAF officer and Battle of Britain fighter pilot ace[1] during World War II. He is counted amongst the ranks of 'The Few'.[2]

Early life

Dalton-Morgan was born in Cardiff on 23 March 1917 and attended Taunton School. On 21 October 1935, he accepted a short service commission with the RAF in the rank of acting pilot officer (on probation), and trained as a pilot,[3] being confirmed as a pilot officer on 26 August 1936.[4] He was promoted to flying officer on 26 April 1938 and was later sent to join No. 22 Squadron RAF, flying the Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bomber.[5] He was later seconded to war at the Air Ministry in London.

Military career

In April 1940 Dalton-Morgan applied to return to flying, and was promoted to flight lieutenant on 26 April.[6] appointed to No. 43 Squadron RAF ("The Fighting Cocks") as a flight commander in June 1940. With minimal fighter experience as a fighter pilot he flew Hawker Hurricanes from RAF Tangmere (part of No. 11 Group RAF).

Battle of Britain

His first 'kill' came on 12 July 1940 when he shared in the downing of a Heinkel He 111 bomber. On 13 August he himself was shot down but safely baled out with minor injuries.

Quickly returning to his squadron, Dalton-Morgan was soon flying combat sorties and shot down four more enemy aircraft over the next three weeks. In early September 1940 he added three Messerschmitt Me 109s fighters to his tally. On 6 September he again came worse off in combat with Me 109s and he was wounded in the face and knee and was forced to crash land his Hurricane.

His first DFC was gazetted on 6 September 1940:[7]

This officer has shown great resolution as a fighter pilot and has led his flight, and at times his squadron, with conspicuous success. He has displayed great courage and determination in the face of heavy enemy odds, and has destroyed seven enemy aircraft. His behaviour in action has been an inspiration to the pilots in his flight.

Once more returning to 43 Squadron on 7 September, Dalton-Morgan now took over command and relocated the squadron to Northumberland to refit with new fighters and to train replacement pilots.

Pilot trainer and bar to DFC

Following the end of the Battle of Britain in October 1940, Dalton-Morgan concentrated on passing on his experience to new pilots. He also worked on developing the Hurricane fighter into a night-fighter with great success. He soon accounted for six further 'kills' flying his Hurricane at night. One of his most successful periods was over the nights of the 6 and 7 May 1941 when he shot down three Luftwaffe bombers over Glasgow. He was promoted to temporary squadron leader on 1 June.[8]

On 8 June he shot down a Junkers Ju 88 and two further 'kills' followed. On 24 July he intercepted another Ju 88 off May Island. Despite his engine starting to fail he pressed home his attack and downed the enemy bomber. His engine then completely quit and he was forced to land on the water, a highly dangerous exercise. He was later picked up by the Royal Navy.

For this attack he received a bar to his DFC on 31 May 1941:[9]

This officer has displayed exceptional skill both as a squadron commander and an individual fighter. During two consecutive nights in May 1941, he destroyed three enemy aircraft bringing his total victories to 13. Squadron Leader Morgan has contributed in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron

On 2 October 1941 he shot down another bomber, off Berwick-on-Tweed. Finally, in February 1942, Dalton-Morgan was rested with a tally of at least 14 aircraft shot down and several damaged.

DSO

After a short period working as a fighter controller at RAF Turnhouse, near Edinburgh, he was promoted to temporary wing commander on 1 June 1942, and promoted to squadron leader (war-substantive) on 26 August.[10][11] He returned to operations in late 1942 to become leader of the Ibsley Wing. Commanding eight fighter squadrons, Dalton-Morgan organised long-range offensive sorties and bomber escort duties over northern France. He damaged an Me 109 in December 1943, and then shot down a Focke Wulf 190 fighter and damaged another during a sweep over the French port of Brest. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 25 May 1943:[12]

Since being awarded a bar to the D.F.C. in May, 1941, this officer has destroyed four enemy aircraft, bringing his total victories to 17 aircraft destroyed.

4th Fighter Group of the US 8th Air Force

Dalton-Morgan's bomber escort experience saw him attached to the 4th Fighter Group of the US 8th Air Force and flew over 70 combat sorties with the group. Promoted to wing commander (war-substantive) on 12 December 1943, he served as operations officer with the 2nd Tactical Air Force.[13]

In the buildup to the Normandy Landings he was part of the planning team organising the roster of ground targets. Shortly before the end of the war, he learned his brother John had been killed after being shot down in a de Havilland Mosquito.

Post war

After the war he remained in Germany with 2nd Tactical Air Force. He was promoted to the substantive rank of squadron leader on 1 September 1945 and attended the RAF Staff College, becoming a senior instructor at the School of Land/Air Warfare.[14] Promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1947, he commanded the Vickers Vampire equipped Gutersloh Wing before taking command of RAF Wunstorf.[15] He resigned from the RAF on 4 April 1952 with the rank of wing commander.[16]

On leaving the RAF, Dalton-Morgan joined the joint UK/Australian weapons testings facility, at Woomera, which he managed for the next 30 years before retiring in Australia.

In January 1945 he was appointed Order of the British Empire (OBE) and mentioned in dispatches in 1946, the same year he also received the US Bronze Star from President Harry Truman.

References

  1. ↑ "Battle of Britain - Roll of Honour". RAF. Retrieved 28 Aug 2013.
  2. ↑ "Obituary: Group Captain Tom Dalton-Morgan". The Daily Telegraph. 24 September 2004. Retrieved 28 Aug 2013.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34219. p. 7168. 12 November 1935. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34329. p. 6367. 6 October 1936. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34505. p. 2712. 26 April 1938. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34849. p. 2895. 14 May 1940. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Dalton-Morgan, Thomas Frederick". World War Two Awards. Retrieved 28 Aug 2013.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35187. p. 3323. 10 June 1941. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Dalton-Morgan, Thomas Frederick". World War Two Awards. Retrieved 28 Aug 2013.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35618. p. 2925. 3 July 1942. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 35736. p. 4384. 6 October 1942. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Dalton-Morgan, Thomas Frederick". World War Two Awards. Retrieved 28 Aug 2013.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36588. p. 3083. 27 June 1944. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37511. p. 1532. 22 March 1946. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38020. p. 3419. 18 July 1947. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39718. p. 6609. 12 December 1952. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
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