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Stephen Thomas (naval officer)

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Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Harrison-Thomas DSC
Steve Thomas
Birth nameStephen Thomas
Nickname(s)"Frodo"
Born1961
Yorkshire, United Kingdom
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
Years of service1978–1989
RankLieutenant-Commander
UnitFleet Air Arm
Battles / warsFalklands War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross

Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Harrison-Thomas DSC, (born 1961), born Stephen Thomas, is a retired British Royal Navy officer who flew the British Aerospace Sea Harrier, with 801 Naval Air Squadron (801 NAS) during the Falklands War.[1]

Early life

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Thomas was born in Yorkshire in 1961. In May 1978, he underwent various tests and examinations at the Aircrew Selection Centre, at RAF Biggin Hill, along with further tests and interviews at HMS Daedalus, and interviews at the Admiralty Interview Board, HMS Sultan. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in October 1978 as an officer under training with the rank of Midshipman.[2]

Military career

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After basic flying training, he completed advanced instruction with the Fleet Air Arm on the Bae Hawk at RAF Valley, followed by conversion to the two-seat Harrier T4. He graduated from the Operational Flying Training Unit, 899 Naval Air Squadron, before joining 801 NAS under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Nigel "Sharkey" Ward.[3] He subsequently flew the Sea Harrier FRS1 from HMS Invincible.[4]

Falklands war

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Thomas embarked on Invincible on 3 April 1982 for the journey South.[5][6]

Engagement on 1 May 1982

Flight Lieutenants Steve Thomas and Paul Barton were on a Combat Air Patrol West of Invincible over West Falkland, at approximately 35,000 ft, when they were vectored toward two Argentine Mirage IIIEA fighters to the North. Barton engaged, launching an AIM‑9L Sidewinder which destroyed the rearmost Mirage.[7] The pilot, Lt Rubén Perona, ejected safely. This was the first British air‑to‑air kill since the Korean War.[8]

Thomas fired a Sidewinder at the second Mirage just as it disappeared into cloud, but the missile failed to detonate. The pilot, Capt Gustavo Cuerva, now dangerously low on fuel, flew to Stanley, but was shot down and killed by Argentine anti‑aircraft defences while attempting to land.[7][9]

21 May 1982

Lieutenant-Commander Ward, was leading a division of three aircraft on a Combat Air Patrol, Southwest of San Carlos Water with Steve Thomas and Alisdair Craig. Two Pucaras operating from Goose Green were detected by HMS Brilliant and the Harriers were vectored to intercept. One of the Pucaras was attacked from abeam by Thomas and Craig without being hit. Simultaneously, Ward attacked the second flown by Major Carlos Tomba from behind with his cannon, and shot it down. Tomba ejected from the Pucara at very low-level and walked back to Goose Green.[10][11]

Later that day, Thomas as Wards wingman, were flying a low-level combat air patrol west of San Carlos. Ward spotted two Argentine Air Force Mirage V "Daggers" approaching at low level heading towards the landing beaches around San Carlos. Ward flew head-on between them, forcing them to turn away. This brought them directly in front of Thomas, who shot down both aircraft with Sidewinder missiles.[7] A third Dagger, approaching from behind, fired on Ward but missed, Ward then turned and destroyed it with a Sidewinder. All three Argentine pilots; Major Piuma, Captain Donadille, and Lieutenant Senn, ejected safely.[7][12] A fourth Dagger evaded interception and attacked Brilliant, causing minor damage.

On the flight back to Invincible Thomas went on to say

As we reached Port Howard we went on either side of the settlement, to avoid the Argentine troop positions there but I must have flown over one of the outlying machine gun post because suddenly I saw orange flashes coming past me. A split second later there was the sound of a ‘thump’ on the radio, one of my fuel pumps failed and both of my radios were out.

When I reached the carrier, I went into the hover and there was the FDO in his yellow jacket pointing at the spot on which I was to land. After I landed, I found the aircraft had been hit in the avionics compartment at the rear by three 0.50 Cal rounds. Two had gone clean through the fuselage and come out the top and one had lodged in the TACAN control box. From the direction in which the bullets hit, the enemy machine gun must have been almost exactly underneath me.

Goose Green

The Battle of Goose Green was fought from 28 to 29 May 1982 on East Falkland’s central isthmus, the site of a tactically important airfield. On 29 May, the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 Para) were pinned down by well-positioned 35mm anti-aircraft guns, preventing further movement and causing casualties.[13][14]

Three Sea Harriers, Lieutenant Nigel "Sharkey" Ward (XZ451), Lieutenant Steve Thomas (XZ453), and Flight Lieutenant Ian Mortimer (XZ459), each armed with either 2.75-inch FFAR rockets or cluster bombs, strafed the Argentine gun positions.[15][16]

Second Lieutenant Claudio Braghini, Commander of the Argentine 35mm AA guns, recalled:

We had not yet finished taking cover when a Harrier emerged from between the hills and dropped a bomb on the gun position, but with such poor aim that half of the cluster fell in the water and the rest about 80 metres from the guns.[17]

Corporal John Geddes of Patrols Platoon, 2Para, later wrote:

The cluster bombs the Harriers had been carrying killed fish as they exploded in the sea.[18]

The attack was generally considered ineffective.[15][19]

1 June

On 1 June 1982, Steve Thomas and Ward were in the climb returning to Invincible after combat air patrol when they were alerted by HMS Minerva (F45) to a radar contact 40 miles to the Northwest. The pair turned towards the position and acquired a target using their Blue Fox radar at a range of 38 miles and an altitude of 4,000 feet below their position. The target, a four-engine Lockheed C-130 Hercules, was heading West towards Argentina while descending. As the Harriers closed, Ward visually identified the aircraft and engaged immediately. His first missile missed, but the second struck between the starboard engines. He then fired 240 rounds from his aircraft's cannons, causing the Hercules to crash into the sea, killing all seven crew members.[7]

Summary

Thomas flew over fifty operational missions during the Falklands War, and was credited with three air-to-air victories and taking part in ten enemy aircraft losses. Despite being one of the least experienced Sea Harrier pilots at the time, with fewer than 200 flight hours on the type, he was the only British pilot to shoot down three fast jets during the conflict. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry.[20][21][22]

After the Falklands War

Thomas subsequently served at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE), Boscombe Down as a test pilot until 1988.These trials and tests were critical in developing and refining new aircraft and weapon systems and improving the capabilities of existing ones. The AAEE at Boscombe Down played a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness and safety of British military aviation during this period.[23]

Later life

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Stephen retired from the Royal Navy in 1989 with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.[24] He embarked on a civilian aviation career, starting as a First Officer and then becoming Captain at Air UK, a regional airline. He flew the BAe 146 Regional Jetliner on European routes from Manchester and later operated Boeing 737-400 for Air UK Leisure from Luton Airport. After KLM bought Air UK, he moved to the Netherlands and served as a Captain on Boeing 767-300 ER on South American routes.[25]

Honours and awards

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Lieutenant Thomas, (801 NAS), a first tour pilot, flew 50 combat sorties and was involved in four separate actions against the Argentine Air Force. In each of these he acquitted himself exceptionally well showing disregard for his own safety. During these actions, one aircraft was destroyed by Lieutenant Thomas. On one occasion he and his partner were attacked by three Mirages firing missiles, but they turned the tables by shooting down two and damaging the third. On a second occasion, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and communications lost, despite which he recovered safely to the ship. In two of the actions he was left with barely sufficient fuel but returned safely to the ship 150 miles away with professional skill and calmness. In each of the actions his excellent radar handling and teamwork were decisive factors. This young aviator displayed enormous courage, determination, good judgment and aggression in the face of the enemy.

The London Gazette, 8 October 1982

References

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  1. ^ "Sea Harriers repay faith" (PDF). Navy News. July 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. ^ The Navy List 1980. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1980. p. 249. ISBN 978-0117722927.
  3. ^ Ward, Commander Sharkey (1992). Sea Harrier Over the Falklands: A Maverick at War. Leo Cooper. pp. 130, 131. ISBN 978-0-85052-305-8.
  4. ^ The Navy List 1982. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1982. p. 237. ASIN B0042H3CYI.
  5. ^ "Fleet Air Arm, Falklands War 1982". www.naval-history.net.
  6. ^ Smith, Colin R; Wilton, David L; Burden, Rodney A; Draper, Michael A; Rough, Douglas A (1986). Falklands: the Air War. British Aviation Research Group. pp. 208–223. ISBN 978-0-85368-842-6.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Argentine aircraft lost 3 April – 15 June 1982". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Falklands Conflict in the Air – Episode 3". IWM. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Harrier vs Mirage – The Falklands Air War". YouTube. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Major Carlos Tomba's Pucara". BBC News. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  11. ^ Ward, Sharkey (1992). Sea Harrier Over the Falklands: A Maverick at War. Leo Cooper. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-85052-305-8.
  12. ^ "Harrier Jumping Jet Flash". BBC. 30 October 1992. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  13. ^ Malvinas: Relatos de Soldados, Martín Antonio Balza, p. 149, Círculo Militar, 1983
  14. ^ "Battle of Darwin Goose Green – La Perla Austral" (in Spanish). 24 June 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  15. ^ a b Freedman, Lawrence (2005). The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and Diplomacy. Routledge. pp. 318–320.
  16. ^ Polmar, Norman (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. Naval Institute Press.
  17. ^ Rodríguez Mottino, Hernán C. (2007). Comandos en acción: Conflicto del Atlántico Sur. Argentinian Army General Staff. p. 196.
  18. ^ Geddes, John (2008), Spearhead Assault: Blood, Guts, and Glory on the Falklands Frontlines, Arrow, p. 193.
  19. ^ Smith, Gordon (2009). Falklands: The Air War. Pen and Sword Aviation.
  20. ^ "No. 49134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1982. p. 12837.
  21. ^ Shores, Christopher (1999). Aces High: A Further Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in WWII, Volume 2. Grub Street Publishing. pp. 221–222. ISBN 978-1-909808-43-0.
  22. ^ Ramsey, Gordon (2009). Falklands War Then and Now. After the Battle Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-1870067713.
  23. ^ The Navy List 1988. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1988. p. 262. ISBN 0-11-772577-3.
  24. ^ The Navy List 1988. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1988. p. 263. ISBN 0-11-772577-3.
  25. ^ Harrison-Thomas, Stephen (2023). Navigating The Skies: Comprehensive Insights Into Aviation Management. Primedia eLaunch LLC. ISBN 979-8-89074-049-6.
  26. ^ "No. 48800". The London Gazette. 18 June 1982. p. 7389.
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