Alexander Thomson
Master Technical Sergeant Alexander Thomson was a Marine pilot with VMF-121.
He was reported missing after a combat mission over Santa Isabel Island on 14 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 262025
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 18, 1917
at New York, NY
Parents
Alexander Thomson (Sr.)
Mother’s name unknown; deceased
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Professional Marine
Service Life
Entered Service
November 5, 1937
at New York, NY
Home Of Record
Brooklyn, NY
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Sara E. (Baxter) Thomson
Military Specialty
Pilot
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Master Technical Sergeant Alexander Thomson, a fighter pilot assigned to VMF-121, arrived at Guadalcanal on 6 October 1942. He flew combat missions out of Henderson Field for just over one week.
On 14 October, the “Cactus Air Force” ran a busy schedule of fighter intercepts, area searches, and two strikes on a Japanese high-speed convoy near Santa Isabel Island. Thomson was one of three VMF-121 pilots lost during the day’s action; his final logged flight was a “escort” on that date, though some primary sources claim he disappeared the following morning.
Thomson was reported missing in action as of 14 October 1942; no further trace of him or his aircraft (F4F-4 Bureau Number 5088) was found, and he was declared dead on 19 February 1945.
MTSGT Thomson’s date of disappearance is generally accepted to be 14 October 1942. Historians John Lundgren (First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign) and Thomas Doll (Marine Fighting Squadron 121) claim that Thomson vanished while escorting a flight of bombers to attack Japanese transports off Santa Isabel Island; Doll further claims that it was the second of two flights, and that mechanical trouble was blamed rather than enemy action. Squadron muster rolls and Thomson’s flight log corroborate this date.
However, the War Diary of MAG-23 (the parent organization of Thomson’s VMF-121) states instead that he was lost on a morning patrol the following day, 15 October 1942. Reasons for this discrepancy are not known; the War Diary has other errors in date and identification that might merit discounting this information. The Navy squadron that carried out the second attack – VS-3 – kept a very detailed account of their missions, including pilots from other squadrons who participated. VS-3 makes no mention of any fighter escort on the second strike, a detail corroborated by MAG-23.
Burial Information or Disposition
None recorded; aircraft failed to return, and crash site is unknown.
Memorials
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Lakeside Cemetery, Cumberland, Wisconsin
Alex Thomson’s daughter, Sara Alex “Saax” Bradbury, was an aspiring actress killed in a plane crash in 1976.
Next Of Kin Address
Wartime address of wife, Mrs. Sara Thomson.
Location Of Loss
Thomson was last seen on an anti-shipping strike “east of Santa Isabel approximately 1820”
Alex Thomson was my grandmother’s first husband and I have his flight log book. His last mission was on 10/14/1942 and was described as “escort”. His aircraft number was 11659 and he was listed as MIA following this flight. I have researched extensively but I fear what actually happened will never be known. I have old telegrams that were correspondence between his father and my grandmother, and there was a report from one of his friends that he was injured during the mishap and the islanders (unknown which island) assisted him with returning to his side. There is no follow up information regarding this. I have been trying to locate any surviving relatives of his to return his medals and log book and some photos I have of him but I can’t find anyone. It would be nieces and nephews if any because his only child (my aunt) died in an accident without children of her own. Any assistance would be much appreciated.