Forrest Harold Thompson, died on 21 March 1945, killed in an air crash while flying with 161 Squadron, RAF. While flying over Belgium as an Air Gunner with 161 Squadron Fighter Command, his aircraft (Hudson IIIA FK803/N, was attacked and set on fire by a night fighter (possibly an Allied night fighter). He is buried in a collective grave at Maulsmuhle Isolated Graves, Kuxembourg. The remains of the aircraft, a Lockhead Hudson were also left at the burial site at the request of the local community and the relatives.

Forrest Thompson applied for enlistment in aircrew on 9 March 1940. He initially enlisted at the Initial Training School (ITS), Levin on 3/5/1941, and proceeded in early June to New Plymouth for elementary flying training, afterwards embarking for Canada on 14 August 1941 for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Here his pilot training was terminated and on 24 November 1941 he proceeded to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba where he received his air gunner badge and was promoted as sergeant on 22 December 1941. Two days later he proceeded to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

In the UK Forrest H Thompson served with 218 Squadron (Marham) and 161 Squadron (Tempsford). Soon after his promotion as Flight Sergeant on 1.4. 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. The citation for the DFM (July 1943) reads: "Flight Sergeant Thompson has taken part in many sorties as rear gunner. Determination, resource, and coolness in difficult circumstances have been a material factor in the successes achieved. On one occasion while returning from a mining operation he 'shot out the light of a searchlight battery. On other occasions he has made successful machinegun attacks on enemy trains and airfields where fires started. He has at all times set a splendid example to younger members of the crew."

Details of the circumstances of his death are recorded in "For Your Tomorrow":

"Tue 20/ Wed 21 March 1945

FIGHTER COMMAND

SOE operations to Germany (by 5 Hudsons - 3 lost)

161 Squadron, RAF (Tempsford, Bedfordshire - 38 Group)

Hudson IIIA FK803/N - took off at 1848, piloted by Flt Lt. T Helfer, RAF on Operation BENEDICT EXPRESS LEADER (touching down en route at Tangmere to collect the agents?) and at 0318 was attacked and set on fire by a night-fighter over the northern tip of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Blown out with his parachute pack on fire when the aircraft exploded, the pilot was the sole survivor, although badly burned about the hands and face. The remaining three crew and three Belgian agents are buried in an isolated collective grave near the crash site on a hill about 1 km west of Maulesmuhle station, which it overlooks. It was later thought FK803 might have been attacked in error by an Allied nightfighter.

Air Gunner: NZ412766 Fg Off Forrest Harold THOMPSON, DFM, RNZAF, Age 27.

[The CWGC register omits mention of Thompson's DFM. Posted to the Squadron only 10 days earlier he had previously complted a 27 op tour as rear gunner with 218 Squadron RAF, although his total number of ops is unknown. His brother Onslow Waldo Thompson died on 1 May 1943 while flying with 105 Squadron.]"