Danish WW2 Pilots

Cpl Emmanuel Richard Thomsen

(1905 - 1985)

Emmanuel Richard Thomsen is one the Danes who volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He serves as tractor operator with the rank of Corporal.

Emmanuel Richard Thomsen is born (as Emanuel Richard Larsen) on 23 February 1905 in Aalborg, Denmark. He is the son of Anne Marie Larsen. On 27 September 1919 he is adopted by farmer Richard and Marianne Thomsen (née Jørgensen) of Odder, Denmark. [1]

On 25 May 1929 he arrives in Halifax, N.S. from Copenhagen on-board SS FREDERIK VIII in company with his wife, Johanne, his father and his wife. [2]

In service in the Royal Canadian Air Force

On 1 January 1942 he is promoted to Leading Aircraftman and on 16 January 1942 he is posted to No.3 Service Flying Training School.

He is promoted Corporal on 1 February 1943 and posted to No.36 Service Flying Training School on 15 April 1943. Here he stays for more than a year before being posted to No.2 Technical Support Unit on 3 November 1944.

He is further posted to No.1 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit on 29 April 1945 and retires from the air force on 9 October 1945. [3]

He is naturalised as British subject on 16 February 1944 (197187 A) [4]

  1. Aalborg Budolfi parish record
  2. Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
  3. RCAF Service card, Directorate of History, courtesy of Hugh Halliday
  4. Canada Gazette, 17 June 1944