Thomas George Matheson Macintyre

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Biography of Thomas George Matheson Macintyre

Tom MacIntyre

Pilot Officer Thomas George Matheson Macintyre was born in Innellan and lived in Glasgow, where his father was a minister. He was educated at the High School of Glasgow, where he captained the cricket team in 1938. He matriculated to study Medicine at the University in 1939 but left after one year to train as a pilot with the RAF. In 1940 he graduated from the Operational Conversion Unit for the Handley Page Hampden bomber.

According to his cousin DM Whyte, Macintyre flew his first mission in August 1941. His bomber had completed the outbound flight to the target over Hamburg but during the bombing run one of the bombs "hung-up" in the bomb bay, jamming the doors partly open. The bomb fused in the strong airflow through the bay, which meant the crew had to fly back to Britain with a live bomb under the aircraft. Upon arriving back over the airfield in Britain, the plane circled until the other returning aircraft had landed and then attempted a smooth landing in the hope that the bomb would not drop out of the bay. Unfortuately the bomb broke loose and exploded, killing all on board.

Summary

Thomas George Matheson Macintyre
Born 8 January 1921, Innellan, Scotland.
Died 25 August 1941.
University Link: Student
GU Degree: Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, 1939-40;
Father's Details: Archibald Macintyre; Minister
War Service: Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force
Grave / Memorial: Glasgow (Eastwood) Cemetery, Scotland
View Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
Record last updated: 13th Aug 2012