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Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London

NELSON, Sqn Ldr Thomas Robert (1915-1999)

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0099 KCLMA Nelson, TR

Held at: Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London

Title: NELSON, Sqn Ldr Thomas Robert (1915-1999)

Date(s): 1996-1997 Covers 1942-1997

Level of description: Collection (Fonds)

Extent: 1 file (0.01 cubic metres)

Name of creator(s): Nelson | Thomas Robert | 1915-1999 | Squadron Leader

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical 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.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Photocopies of articles by Thomas Robert Nelson on wartime service in RAF, 1942-44; 'A Desert Landing' describing crash landing in the Western Desert, 18 Sep 1942, and subsequent capture by German forces and 'Tom, Dick and Harry of Stalag Luft III' describing the construction of three escape tunnels from Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Germany, and the escape of eighty allied airmen, Mar 1944 (later filmed as The Great Escape ). Both articles were originally published in the KLM Pilots Association Magazine, 1948. With copies of correspondence and presscuttings.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Photocopies from scrapbook compiled by Mr Nelson, 1996-97

Conditions governing access:

Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the Director of Archive Services.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Photocopies presented by family, July 2000

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Original scrapbook retained by family

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: papers and Times obituary. Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM 25 Project.