Thomas L. Purdom facts for kids

Captain Thomas Laurence Purdom was a brave Scottish pilot during World War I. He was known as a flying ace because he shot down 13 enemy aircraft. He earned the Military Cross for his courage.

Early Life and Joining the Army

Thomas Laurence Purdom was born in Hawick, Scotland, on June 24, 1892. His father, John R. Purdom, was a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. When World War I began, Thomas was working in his father's office. He decided to join the army right away.

He became a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers on October 14, 1914.

Becoming a Pilot

In 1915, Thomas Purdom joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), which was the air force before it became the Royal Air Force. He learned to fly and earned his pilot's license on October 11, 1915. He officially became a flying officer on January 18, 1916.

First Flights and Reconnaissance

Throughout 1916, Purdom flew with No. 15 Squadron. He flew a B.E.2c biplane, which was a two-seater plane used for looking at enemy positions. His unit mostly did jobs like artillery spotting (helping ground troops aim their cannons) and aerial photography (taking pictures from the sky). During this time, he didn't have any success in air combat.

Joining a New Squadron and Combat Success

On September 20, 1916, Purdom was promoted to captain and became a flight commander. He moved to a new unit, No. 62 Squadron. In May 1917, his squadron received the Bristol F.2 Fighter, a much better plane for fighting. In January 1918, they were sent to France to join the fighting.

Purdom finally had success in the air on March 21, 1918, when he shot down two enemy planes. He scored more victories on March 24 and 26. This made him and his gunner, Lieutenant Percival Chambers, "aces" within a week. A flying ace is a pilot who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft.

They continued to win battles, becoming "double aces" (ten victories) by May 15. Two days later, they reached twelve victories together. They had destroyed five enemy planes and forced eight others to crash. On May 19, 1918, Purdom and a new gunner, William Norman Holmes, forced a Fokker D.VII plane to crash. This was Purdom's thirteenth victory.

Military Cross Award

In June 1918, Captain Purdom was given the Military Cross. This is a special award for bravery in battle. His award citation said he showed "exceptional gallantry and daring" for attacking and shooting down enemy aircraft. It mentioned that he had destroyed four enemy planes in just one month.

After the War

In July 1918, Purdom was injured and returned home. He was sent to the Aeroplane Experimental Station at RAF Martlesham Heath. He left the Royal Air Force on February 19, 1919.

He was also promoted to captain in his original army regiment, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, on March 21, 1919.

Purdom's Air Victories

Here is a list of Captain Purdom's 13 confirmed air victories:

See also

• List of World War I aces credited with 11–14 victories