Lieutenant John Frank Thompson 

Early Life and Education

John Frank Thompson was born in North Carolina and grew up in the Durham area. He attended college at High Point College in 1938–39 before leaving to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve. (High Point College was located in High Point, NC, but Thompson’s home was Durham, North Carolina.) His decision to join the Navy came as World War II loomed; he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program in 1941 to train as a pilot. By mid-1942, after completing flight training and earning his wings, Thompson was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and qualified as a naval aviator.

Naval Training and Early Career

Thompson’s early Navy career involved rigorous flight training at several naval air stations. Upon earning his commission, he was assigned to fighter aircraft. One alumni account indicates that Thompson saw combat early in the war in the North Africa campaign. In late 1942 (during Operation Torch), Ensign Thompson flew fighter missions supporting the Allied landings. He was wounded in action in North Africa, yet managed to bring his bullet-riddled aircraft back safely – his plane reportedly sustained 72 bullet holes, but Thompson landed it despite his injuries. This remarkable incident attests to his skill and courage as a young pilot.

After recovering from his wounds, Thompson continued to serve as a Navy fighter pilot. As the war progressed, he transitioned to the newer Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter and trained for carrier-based operations in the Pacific Theater. His early assignments and combat experience helped prepare him for the intense carrier warfare to come.

Service with USS Cabot (CVL-28) and VF-29

By 1944, Lt. John F. Thompson (then either a Lieutenant Junior Grade or full Lieutenant) was assigned to Fighting Squadron 29 (VF-29), which was the fighter squadron of Air Group 29 aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Cabot (CVL-28). Cabot had joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet in late 1943 and from early 1944 was engaged in nearly continuous combat operations. Flying his F6F Hellcat with VF-29, Thompson took part in many of these operations throughout 1944 as Cabot supported the Allied advance across the Pacific.

USS Cabot’s air group saw action in the Marshall Islands in early 1944, conducting strikes on Roi-Namur and the Japanese stronghold at Truk. In the spring of 1944, Cabot launched attacks on Japanese bases in the Carolines and provided air cover for the Hollandia landings in New Guinea. During June 1944, Thompson’s squadron participated in the Marianas campaign, including the famed Battle of the Philippine Sea (the “Marianas Turkey Shoot”), where Cabot’s fighters helped decimate Japanese carrier air power.

Through the summer and fall of 1944, Cabot continued in frontline action. VF-29 flew in pre-invasion strikes on the Palau Islands in September and hit targets in the Philippines (Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon) ahead of General MacArthur’s landing. In October 1944, Cabot was part of Task Force 38 during the intense battles around the Leyte Gulf. Thompson and his comrades flew missions during the Battle of Leyte Gulf and subsequent operations, facing enemy fighters and kamikaze threats. Cabot itself was hit by a kamikaze on November 25, 1944, suffering serious damage and casualties (though Thompson was not among those injured at that time). The carrier went to Ulithi for repairs, but was ready to rejoin action by mid-December 1944.

Final Mission: Attack on a “Hell Ship” (December 14–15, 1944)

In December 1944, USS Cabot returned to combat operations off the Philippines. Thompson’s final mission came during a strike against Japanese shipping in Subic Bay, Luzon. On December 14–15, 1944, aircraft from Cabot and USS Hornet (CV-12) attacked a convoy that included the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese passenger-cargo ship. Unbeknownst to the American pilots at the time, Oryoku Maru was being used as a POW transport – a “Hellship” – carrying over 1,600 Allied prisoners of war (mostly Americans) crowded in brutal conditions in its holds. Also on board were Japanese military personnel and civilians.

The Cabot and Hornet air groups struck Oryoku Maru in Subic Bay near Olongapo on the 14th of December. They strafed and bombed the unmarked ship, attempting to sink what they believed to be an enemy troop transport. The attack continued into the morning of December 15, 1944, when Oryoku Maru was fatally damaged and eventually sank near the coastline. Tragically, around 200 Allied POWs were killed in the attack (and many more would perish in subsequent ordeals).

During this operation, Lt. John F. Thompson piloted one of Cabot’s Hellcats making low-level bombing runs on the ship. Japanese anti-aircraft fire from Oryoku Maru was intense. Thompson’s aircraft was hit by enemy flak. According to accounts, even after being hit, he pressed home his attack. In fact, a later citation indicates that although mortally wounded, he still released his bombs and scored a near-hit on the enemy vessel. His stricken F6F Hellcat then went down in the waters off Sueste Point, Subic Bay.

Thompson’s wingmen saw his plane crash; no parachute was observed. He was killed in action on December 14, 1944 (December 15 local date) during this mission. He was the only pilot lost in the anti-Oryoku Maru strike – Cabot’s sole aviation casualty in that operation. Thompson was officially listed as Missing in Action (MIA) when he did not return from the sortie. (Given the location of the crash in the bay and the combat conditions, no immediate search could be made.) His remains were never recovered, and he was later presumptively declared dead.

Awards, Honors, and Commendations

Lieutenant Thompson’s service and sacrifice were recognized with several military honors. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds that cost him his life. He also received the Air Medal (with a Gold Star in lieu of a second award) for his valor and achievement as a pilot. Notably, the Gold Star award was specifically tied to his final mission in the Philippines. The citation for this award highlights Thompson’s heroism, stating that “although fatally wounded he released his bombs to score a near hit on an enemy vessel.” This reflects the fact that even in his last moments, he completed his attack run on the Japanese ship, undoubtedly saving fellow pilots from having to make additional runs and exemplifying dedication to duty.

During his Navy career, Thompson had also earned at least one earlier Air Medal for meritorious service in aerial combat (the Gold Star signifies a second award). These Air Medals would have been for his accumulated missions and exploits as a fighter pilot. In addition, the USS Cabot itself received the Presidential Unit Citation for its exceptional performance in 1944, meaning Thompson and his squadron were part of a highly distinguished combat unit.

Lieutenant Thompson is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, along with other fallen servicemen who have no known grave. His name and legacy live on in official records and in the memories of his shipmates.

Legacy and Remembrance

In the decades since World War II, efforts have been made to honor Lt. John F. Thompson’s sacrifice and, if possible, recover his remains. In recent years, a joint American and Filipino team (the Philippine MIA Search and Recovery Project) has conducted searches in the Subic Bay area for crash sites of missing airmen, including Thompson’s Hellcat. As of the latest reports, his aircraft wreckage and remains have not yet been found, but the continued search reflects a commitment to bring closure to his case.

On December 15, 2024 – the 80th anniversary of the Oryoku Maru attack – a memorial ceremony was held at the Hellships Memorial in Subic Bay, Philippines. This ceremony honored the American POWs who died in the hellship and also paid tribute to the American servicemen involved in the attack, including Lt. Thompson. Historians and officials from the U.S. and the Philippines attended, underscoring the enduring significance of this history.

Lieutenant John Frank Thompson’s story is a poignant example of the courage and sacrifice of Navy aviators in World War II. From his North Carolina upbringing and early brush with death in North Africa, to his final act of heroism over Subic Bay, Thompson served with honor. He gave his life in the effort to liberate the Philippines, striking a blow against the enemy even in his last moments. His name is etched in stone among the heroes of the Second World War, and his legacy is preserved through official records, commendations, and the memories of those who continue to tell his story.

Sources

High Point College “Roll of Honor” – summary of John F. Thompson’s service (Durham, NC background, naval reserve and USS Cabot assignment).

Elon College Alumni News – various issues with updates on alumni in service. Notably, a 1943 report of Thompson’s North Africa mission (wounding and safe return) and a post-war notice of his KIA and Naval Air Corps entry in 1941.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) for USS Cabot – operational history of Cabot in 1944 (Marshall Islands, Marianas, Philippines campaigns) and details of kamikaze damage Nov 1944.

Bamban WWII Museum (Philippines) – article “Remembering Lt. John Francis Thompson” – details of the Oryoku Maru attack and Thompson being shot down (MIA on 14 Dec 1944).

National Archives (NARA) / POW reference – context on Oryoku Maru as a hellship and its sinking on 15 Dec 1944.

Manila American Cemetery listing (ABMC / interment records) – confirmation of Thompson’s status, unit, and awards (Air Medal with Gold Star, Purple Heart).

High Point College roll/citation – excerpt of Thompson’s medal citation for heroism in the Philippines (“fatally wounded [but] released his bombs…”).