Stephen Thomas (naval officer)

Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Harrison-Thomas, (born 1961), born Stephen Thomas, is a British Royal Navy officer who flew the Sea Harrier Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike aircraft to service with 801 Naval Air Squadron during the Falklands War.
==Early life==
Thomas was born in Yorkshire in 1961. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1978 as an officer cadet with the rank of Midshipman.
==Military career==
After basic flying training he completed his training with the Fleet Air Arm on the Bae Hawk at RAF Valley and Harrier T4. He then joined 801 Naval Air Squadron and flew the Bae Sea Harrier FRS1 in UK service FRS1 from the deck of HMS. 
===Falklands war===
After recently graduating the Operational Flying Training Unit at 899 Naval Air Squadron, embarked in HMS Invincible on 3 April 1982.Burden et al 1986, pp 208–223 joining 801 Naval Air Squadron commanded by Lieutenant Commander Nigel Sharkey Ward 
;21 May 1982
Thomas’ commander, Lt Cdr Ward, was leading a division of three aircraft launched to carry out Combat Air Patrol over the Falkland Sound, southwest of San Carlos Water with the other aircraft flown by Steve Thomas and Alisdair Craig. Two FMA IA 58 Pucará operating from Goose Green at low level were detected by the air defence controller in HMS Brilliant (F90) Brilliant. The three Sea Harriers were in the climb en route Invincible when they were vectored towards the Pucaras. One of the Pucaras was attacked from abeam by the two Sea Harriers flown by Steve Thomas and Alisdair Craig but evaded being hit. Simultaneously, Ward attacked Major Carlos Tomba's aircraft from behind with his ADEN cannon, setting the starboard engine on fire and damaging the port aileron. He immediately re-attacked hitting the fuselage and port engine. In his third and final run flying as low as 10 feet above the ground, he destroyed the cockpit canopy and upper fuselage. Tomba ejected from the Pucara at very low-level before the aircraft crashed north-west of Drone Hill. Tomba was unhurt and walked back to Goose Green. 
Later that same day Ward, and his wingman, Steve Thomas, were carrying out a low-level combat air patrol to the West of San Carlos over the land. Whilst in a turn, Ward sighted two Argentine Air Force IAI Nesher "Dagger"s approaching from the West at very low level. They were on their way to attack the landing force in San Carlos Water. He flew between them head on and then turned hard to engage them in combat. The Daggers also turned hard but not towards their target. They were running for home. This placed them in front of Steve's Sea Harrier and he shot them down with two Sidewinder missiles. Meanwhile, a third unseen Dagger was firing its cannon from behind Ward's aircraft at him but missed. Ward turned on the Dagger and shot him down with a Sidewinder. Whist this dog fight was going on, a fourth Dagger had evaded intercept and had attacked the air defence control ship Brilliant: fortunately with little damage. The three Dagger pilots, Major Piuma, Captain Donadille and Lieutenant Senn, ejected safely.. . 
;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 to an intermittent radar contact 40 miles to the northwest. Ward immediately led Thomas in a hard turn towards the reported contact position and detected a large aircraft target on his Blue Fox radar, at 38 miles and 4,000 feet below. He immediately took charge of the intercept and tracked the target turning towards Argentina and descending. At high speed, the two Sea Harriers closed in on the target and, as he emerged through the low cloud, Ward became visual with a four-engined Lockheed C-130 Hercules at 200 feet above the sea. Short of fuel for the return to Invincible, immediate action was required. Ward's first AIM-9 Sidewinder missile fell just short of the C-130, but the second started a fire between the inner and outer starboard engines. Ward then fired 240 rounds from his Harrier's two ADEN cannons and this action caused the enemy aircraft to lose control, sending it crashing into the sea and killing the seven crew members. 
Thomas flew over fifty war missions, achieved three air-to-air kills, and took part in or witnessed a total of ten kills; and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) 
Thomas subsequently served at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down as a test pilot until 1988 .
==Later life==
After retiring from the Royal Navy in 1989 Thomas, now Harrison, joined AirUK as a pilot flying BAE 146 Regional Jets, then Boeing 767. He later transferred to KLM (after the purchase of the airline) flying Boeing 767-300 on ETOPS.
==Honours and awards==
8 October 1982 – Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) for gallant and distinguished service in the South Atlantic:
Lieutenant Thomas, 801 Naval Air Squadron, 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 bis 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. source=London Gazette, 8 October 1982.
Category:1961 births
Category:Royal Navy officers
Category:Fleet Air Arm aviators
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)