English Māori Thomas Welch Horton Born 29 December 1919 This is a preliminary record. Find out more. PDF Key details Service numberWWII NZ39920 AWMM Also known asTom AWMM Armed force / branchAir Force AWMM Last rankWing Commander Hanson WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Enquire Portrait of RNZAF Wing Commander Thomas Welch Horton who served with No. 105 Squadron RAF during Wor … View gallery Hide sources Show empty fields Identity About Contribute › Title ForenamesThomas Welch AWMM SurnameHorton AWMM Ingoa Also known asTom AWMM Service numberWWII NZ39920 AWMM GenderMale AWMM Iwi Hapū Waka Rohe Religion Images and documents Images Contribute › Documents Contribute › Civilian life About birth Contribute › Birth29 December 1919 Hanson Masterton, Wairarapa Hanson Date of birth Place of birth Birth notes Address before enlistmentWW2 Masterton AWMM Post war occupation Next of kin on embarkation Relationship status Service Wars and conflicts Contribute › WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Campaign Armed force / branchAir Force AWMM Service numberWWII NZ39920 AWMM Military serviceRoyal Air Force Hanson Royal New Zealand Air Force, 88 Squadron, RAF AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force, 105 Squadron, RAF AWMM Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers Military decorations Contribute › Medals and AwardsCompanion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM 18 September 1945 AWMM "Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Wing Commander Horton has completed a large number of operational sorties. At all times he has shown great skill as a pilot and, more recently sound judgement and fine leadership as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander. This officer has always shown great courage and determination in pressing home his attacks and has obtained some excellent results." AWMM Distinguished Flying Cross and bar (DFC*) AWMM 5 August 1942 AWMM "Throughout his operational tour, this officer has displayed courage, resource and high skill. He has participated in a large number of sorties, including low level attacks on shipping. His aircraft has been repeatedly hit and damaged by enemy fire and, on 3 occasions, he has flown his aircraft safely back to this country after having had one engine rendered useless by enemy attacks." 5 August 1942; Bar for Distinguished Flying Cross "Since his previous awar Squadron Leader Horton has completed many successful sorties during which he has attacked a wide range of target. He has on all occasions shown great courage and determination and has done much valuable work."10 August 1944 AWMM New Zealand Defence Meritorious Service Medal AWMM Training and Enlistment Contribute › Military training Branch Trade Proficiency EnlistmentWW2 26 October 1939 Hanson Occupation before enlistment Age on enlistment Embarkations Contribute › Embarkation detailsWW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM Prisoner of war Contribute › Capture details Days interned Liberation date Liberation Repatriation POW liberation details POW serial number Medical history Contribute › Medical notes Last known rank Contribute › Last rank29 December 1966 AWMM Wing Commander Hanson Biographical information Biographical information Contribute › Attended Wairarapa High School.100 years young on the 29th December 2019. AWMM Death About death Contribute › Death Date of death Age at death Place of death Cause of death Death notes Cemetery Cemetery name Grave reference Obituary Memorial name Memorial reference Memorials Memorial Contribute › Memorial name Leave a note Leave a tribute or memory of Thomas Welch Horton Leave a note Contribute › Processing Sources Sources Contribute › External linksBen Stanley, Love and luck: 99-year-old World War II pilot reflects on war, www.stuff.co.nz, 21 April 2019 https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112102038/love-and-luck-99yearold-world-war-ii-pilot-reflects-on-war Further Reference Episode 26 – W/C Tom Horton DSO, DFC*, (pff), The Wings Over New Zealand Show Aviation Podcast http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2012/08/episode-26-wc-tom-horton-dso-dfc-pff/ Further Reference Thomas W. Horton (RAF officer), Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_W._Horton_(RAF_officer) Further Reference Connie Lawn, 'Ambassador Moore meets Wing Commander Thomas Welch Horton', New Zealand Embassy, Washington D.C., 30 April 2014 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1404/S00233/ambassador-moore-meets-wing-commander-thomas-welch-horton.htm Further Reference Stanely, Ben. Far from home, decorated Kiwi WW2 Pilot Turns 100. Stuff.co.nz. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118498358/far-from-home-decorated-kiwi-ww2-pilot-turns-100 Further Reference PHOTOS: 99-year-old WWII veteran receives New Zealand service medal. Naples Daily News. 25 December 2019. https://www.naplesnews.com/picture-gallery/life/2019/12/24/99-year-old-wwii-veteran-receives-new-zealand-service-medal/2737965001/ Further Reference DocumentsHanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM p.259-60 AWMM The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided. Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License