Thomas Lucas was the youngest son of Rev John Henry and Anne Elizabeth Lucas. He was born on 9th February 1912 in the Markethill area. He was the youngest of six children. It seems Thomas emigrated to Canada. Thomas enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force, On 5th December 1940, Thomas Lucas was a student pilot at the Royal Canadian Air Force Training School in Malton, Toronto. His plane was in collision with another plane and he was killed instantly in the accident.
Further Information
Thomas Lucas was the youngest son of Rev John Henry and Anne Elizabeth Lucas. of Rev John Henry and Anne Elizabeth Griffith were married on 27th December 1899 in the district of Armagh.
The 1910 Ulster Towns Directory lists Rev J H Lucas at Lisnagat Rectory, Markethill. County Armagh.
The 1911 census lists the family at house 9 in Lisnagat, Glenanne, County Armagh.
Known family: John Henry Lucas, Anne Elizabeth Lucas, Annie Sarah Jane Lucas (born 21st June 1902, Omagh), Maureen Eleanor Matilda Lucas (born 10th January 1904, Omagh), Maud Alecia Griffith Lucas (born 21st July 1905, Omagh), John Edward Griffith Lucas (born 6th March 1907, Omagh), William Henry Seymour Lucas (born 9th April 1909, Markethill).
Thomas Francis Crozier Lucas was born on 9th February 1912 in the Markethill area. He was the youngest of six children.
It seems Thomas emigrated to Canada.
Thomas enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In late 1940, Thomas Lucas was a student pilot at the Royal Canadian Air Force Training School in Malton, Toronto.
On 5th December 1940, Leading Aircraftman Thomas Lucas was training in a two man dual instruction aircraft on approach to land at Maldon. Whilst in the process of landing, his aircraft collided with a Finch 4420, which was also completing a training run. They approached the field together and had almost touched the ground when they collided.
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Francis Crozier Lucas was killed instantly in the accident.
The civilian instructor of Leading Aircraftman Thomas Lucas’ aircraft, Edward Leslie Baxter, was seriously injured.
From an unknown Canadian newspaper dated 6th December 1940: Planes Collide, Pilot Killed – Second Hurt in Mishap at Malton School – Two Others Escape
Thomas F C Lucas, 28, student pilot at the Royal Canadian Air Force Training School, Malton, was instantly killed yesterday when the plane in which he was taking dual instruction collided with another plane as they were landing at the airfield. Edward Leslie Baxter, his instructor was seriously injured and taken to St Michael’s Hospital. He is suffering from concussion, possible internal injuries and lacerations of the body. Occupants of the second plane, Instructor E L Taylor and Leading Aircraftsman J E Hockey landed their plane safely and escaped injury. Lucas’ plane was badly damaged. It is not known who was at the controls of the first plane. A court of enquiry will be held. Squadron Leader David Harding, in command of the station, said it was the first accident to occur at the Malton school since it opened in the spring. Both planes were elementary fleet trainers. They approached the field together and had almost touched the ground when they collided.
The occupants of the second plane, Instructor E L Taylor and Leading Aircraftsman J E Hockey landed their plane safely and escaped injury.
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Francis Crozier Lucas was buried in Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.
There is a C J Lucas listed on Moy War Memorial. It is suspected that this is in fact Thomas Lucas as no details have been found regarding a C J Lucas.
The CWGC record Leading Aircraftman Thomas Francis Crozier Lucas as the son of the Rev John Henry Lucas and Anna E Lucas of The Rectory, Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
