Key Information
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Nelson, Thomas Robert, 1915-1999, Squadron Leader
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Description area
Dates of existence
1915-1999
History
Born Leeds 1915 (Thomas Robert Fidgett), adopted mother's maiden name, Nelson, by deed poll, 1936; joined RAF, 1937, spent four years as a flying instructor in Britain and Rhodesia, posted to Middle East, 1941, and joined 37 Squadron, flying Wellington bombers, June 1942. Completed 22 operational flights; crash landed in Western Desert, approximately 50 miles south of Sollum, 18 Sep 1942; subsequently captured by German forces and transferred to Stalag Luft III at Sagen, Silesia, Germany; assisted with construction of three escape tunnels and with escape of 76 allied airmen, Mar 1944; recaptured and held in Gestapo prison at Gorlitz; commercial pilot with KLM, 1946-1952; accident investigator, Air Accident Investigation Branch, 1952-1957 and International Civil Aviation Organisation, 1957-1975; died 1999.
Relationships area
Access points area
Subjects
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Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
0099 KCLMA
Status
Final
Level of detail
Partial