1394823 - D.L. Thompson - attested 11.8.41 - F/O Pilot - commissioned 8.8.43

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 - Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Flight Lieutenant

[Source: CG, UC]

A photo from the WW II album of  RAF Flight Lieutenant the  Rt. Hon, Dudley J. Thompson, O.C., Q.C of Jamaica, who collaborated in the production of “For King & Country.”  At 91 he is as lucid as ever (March 2009).

[Courtesy Gabriel Christian]

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Born :1/19/1917 Country :Jamaica
Best known for/as: Lawyer Pan-African activist / Defended Jomo KenyattaBiography: Dudley Thompson is a man of many distinctions. Regarded as an intellectual and long standing Pan-Africanist, a friend and colleague of George Padmore, Kwame Nkrumah, C.L.R. James, Julius Nyerre and M.K.O. Abiola. Thompson in his earlier years fought as pilot in active combat during his tenure in the RAAF. As a lawyer he has defended Jomo Kenyatta during the Mau Mau trials is Kenya.Played an effective role in the independence movement of both Belize and Bahamas. In Jamaica he has held a variety of official positions and was awarded the Order of Jamaica, one of Jamaica’s most prestigious decorations, for distinguished service in the field of International Affairs and his contribution to the legal developments in Jamaica.

Awarded a medal by the OAU as a “Legend Of Africa”.

[Source: Afiwi.com]

Official website of Dudley Thompson

Dudley J. Thompson, Q.C.
Flight Lieutenant
Royal Air Force
World War II

Excerpt from an interview with Irving W. Andre - For King & Country (Andre & Christian 2008)

In 1940 an unlikely incident caused a dramatic change in the trajectory of Thompson’s life.  On a propitious day, he found himself within the confines of a dentist’s office in Kingston, Jamaica.  As he waited his turn, he picked up a magazine which had excerpts from Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.  Thompson started reading out of interest and a necessity borne out of anxiety engendered by his impending encounter with the dentist.  Soon however, his attention was riveted to the magazine.  Enraged, he read the German leader’s disparaging views about “Negroes.”  He was immediately gripped by a sudden anger and desire to fly to Germany and teach a lesson in “civility” to the German leader.

At that moment Dudley Thompson’s teaching career was over.  Resolutely, he decided to join the war effort.  He took a ship to Canada to train as a pilot.  Upon his arrival, the authorities advised that it would take two years training before he could qualify as a pilot.  Thompson did not want to wait that long.  He felt that the war would end before he qualified.  He therefore decided to return to Jamaica and travel to England instead.

Accompanied by approximately ten of his compatriots, Thompson boarded a ship to England.  The ship docked in Ireland.  They took a train to Liverpool and Thompson within days of his arrival gravitated towards the RAF recruitment centre.

His timing was impeccable.  The application form contained an ominous question:  Are you of pure European descent?  Many highly qualified West-Indian applicants had been rejected on account of this requirement.  When Thompson applied however, it was not rigidly enforced because of the need for more pilots.

Upon completing the form, Thompson replied yes to the question.  A burly recruitment officer reviewed the form, stared insolently at the fair complexioned Thompson and asked him if he had understood the question.

“What made you believe I did not understand the question?”  Thompson retorted.  The officer stared but did not reply.  He accepted the form along with that of three of Thompson’s compatriots.  He would train at the Officer’s training college at Cranwell.  Thenceforth he got his wish and flew as a member of a Lancaster Bomber’s aircrew  over Europe.  Between 1941 and 1945, he earned several war decorations as a Flight Lieutenant.

[Courtesy Gabriel Christian]