Tim Thorn
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Timothy Gane Thorn AFC
FRAeS, often known as Tim Thorn and nicknamed "Tiger", is a retired member of the Royal Air Force
and up to January 2010 was a pilot and flying instructor at 6 Air Experience Flight
at RAF Benson
, Oxfordshire.
Thorn was born in Atbara, Sudan during World War II
and attended Ipswich School
from 1953 to 1961. Just after leaving school he represented Suffolk in the Minor Counties cricket competition as an 'opening' fast bowler. He entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
as a Flight Cadet in September 1961. He graduated with his pilot wings in 1964 and on completion of the Advanced Flying Training he was selected to become a flying instructor staight out of training.
He represented the RAF at Rugby
and played for Blackheath Rugby Club.
In May 1966, Thorn ejected from his aircraft following a mid-air collision with 4 other aircraft in which two aircraft crashed on to the outskirts of Nottingham. Thorn represented Great Britain in the bobsleigh
at the 1968 Winter Olympics
, Grenoble
, France. At the European Championships just prior to the Olympics he won a 'Bronze Medal'. On completion of his flying instructors tour he started his succession of Fighter Squadron tours commencing January 1968. Four Hawker Hunter
tours followed: No 8 Squadron based at RAF Muharraq, Bahrain
(1968–69), No 4 Squadron and No II(AC) Squadron based at RAF Gutersloh
, Germany (1969–71) and No 234 Squadron
based at RAF Chivenor, SW England, where he graduated from the Pilot Attack Instructors Course. Promoted to Squadron Leader
in July 1972, having turned down the opportunity to become a Queen's Equerry
, he was seconded to the British Army and joined the Parachute Regiment with 16 Parachute Brigade where he completed over a hundred parachute descents. The tour was shortened to attend the Indian Defence Services Staff College, in South India for a year in 1975.
On completion of Staff College, a return to flying duties on the new single-seat Jaguar
aircraft followed, first as a Deputy OC No 41 (F) Sqn based at RAF Coltishall
, where he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCVSA).
Promoted to Wing Commander
in July 1979, he completed the 6-month Air Warfare Course at the RAF College, Cranwell, before taking command of No II (AC) Squadron in 1980, flying the Jaguar at RAF Laarbruch
. He was awarded the Air Force Cross
in December 1982. In January 1983 he handed over command of No II (AC) Squadron to Wing Commander Hoare. He was posted to the Operations Directorate in the Ministry of Defence
with responsibility for future RAF air to ground weapons which included the development of a new nuclear weapon. In 1985 he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
(FRAeS).
He was promoted to Group Captain
and was appointed Station Commander, RAF Cranwell
in September 1987 before being succeeded by Group Captain
T E L Jarron.
Thorn next held an appointment at the Training Command HQ before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London during the year 1990. During the year's course he was promoted to Air Commodore
and at the end of the course was appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ RAF Germany in January 1991. He held this post until March 1991 when he became the first Air Commodore to be appointed the Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
whilst holding the post of Director of Fire Services. and Head of the RAF Strike Command Provost Branch.
After he had prematurely retired from the RAF having achieved over 8,000 single seat flying hours and a total of 123 parachute descents, Thorn joined De Beers
as the Head of Security for the Diamond Company with world wide responsibility. At the same time he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch in December 1995 with the rank of flying officer
. In December 1997 he was awarded a Green Endorsement for an instance of Exceptional Flying Skill and Judgement when flying with an Air Training Corps (ATC) cadet in a RAF Tutor aircraft he successfully completed a forced landing back on to the airfield from 350 feet after the engine had failed and the propellor stopped. He was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant
in 2003. In November 2000, together with the Metropolitan Police
Flying Squad
he was heavily involved in successfully denying an attempt to steal £350 million display of De Beers diamonds (the Millennium Star
and 11 unique Blue Diamonds) from the Millennium Dome
, Greenwich
, London. In 2005, he retired from De Beers at the age of 60 years and formed his own Security Consultancy Company dealing with the Jewellery Retail Trade and Diamond/Gold Mines.
As a consequence of a change of RAF policy on the maximum age of RAF pilots he was forced to cease flying on 31 January 2010 but he continues to run his consultancy.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Timothy Gane Thorn AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
FRAeS, often known as Tim Thorn and nicknamed "Tiger", is a retired member of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and up to January 2010 was a pilot and flying instructor at 6 Air Experience Flight
6 Air Experience Flight
No. 6 Air Experience Flight is one of twelve Air Experience Flights run by the Air Cadet Organisation of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in the 1950s, along with the other AEFs, with the aim of teaching basic flying to members of the Air Training Corps, Combined Cadet Force and occasionally,...
at RAF Benson
RAF Benson
RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in South Oxfordshire, England. It is home to the Royal Air Force's support helicopters, the Aérospatiale Puma and the EH-101 Merlin, known as the Puma HC.Mk 1 and the Merlin HC.Mk 3 and Mk 3a....
, Oxfordshire.
Thorn was born in Atbara, Sudan during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and attended Ipswich School
Ipswich School
Ipswich School is a co-educational public school for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk, England in the town of Ipswich, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528....
from 1953 to 1961. Just after leaving school he represented Suffolk in the Minor Counties cricket competition as an 'opening' fast bowler. He entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
The Royal Air Force College is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with...
as a Flight Cadet in September 1961. He graduated with his pilot wings in 1964 and on completion of the Advanced Flying Training he was selected to become a flying instructor staight out of training.
He represented the RAF at Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and played for Blackheath Rugby Club.
In May 1966, Thorn ejected from his aircraft following a mid-air collision with 4 other aircraft in which two aircraft crashed on to the outskirts of Nottingham. Thorn represented Great Britain in the bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
at the 1968 Winter Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
, Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, France. At the European Championships just prior to the Olympics he won a 'Bronze Medal'. On completion of his flying instructors tour he started his succession of Fighter Squadron tours commencing January 1968. Four Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
tours followed: No 8 Squadron based at RAF Muharraq, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
(1968–69), No 4 Squadron and No II(AC) Squadron based at RAF Gutersloh
RAF Gütersloh
The former Royal Air Force Station Gütersloh, more commonly known as RAF Gütersloh, was a Royal Air Force Germany military airbase, the nearest Royal Air Force airbase to the East/West German border, in the vicinity of the town of Gütersloh. It was constructed by the Germans prior to World War II...
, Germany (1969–71) and No 234 Squadron
No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
based at RAF Chivenor, SW England, where he graduated from the Pilot Attack Instructors Course. Promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
in July 1972, having turned down the opportunity to become a Queen's Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
, he was seconded to the British Army and joined the Parachute Regiment with 16 Parachute Brigade where he completed over a hundred parachute descents. The tour was shortened to attend the Indian Defence Services Staff College, in South India for a year in 1975.
On completion of Staff College, a return to flying duties on the new single-seat Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
aircraft followed, first as a Deputy OC No 41 (F) Sqn based at RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
, where he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCVSA).
Promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in July 1979, he completed the 6-month Air Warfare Course at the RAF College, Cranwell, before taking command of No II (AC) Squadron in 1980, flying the Jaguar at RAF Laarbruch
RAF Laarbruch
The former Royal Air Force Station Laarbruch, more commonly known as RAF Laarbruch ICAO EDUL was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, located in Germany on its border with the Netherlands...
. He was awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in December 1982. In January 1983 he handed over command of No II (AC) Squadron to Wing Commander Hoare. He was posted to the Operations Directorate in the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
with responsibility for future RAF air to ground weapons which included the development of a new nuclear weapon. In 1985 he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
(FRAeS).
He was promoted to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
and was appointed Station Commander, RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
in September 1987 before being succeeded by Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
T E L Jarron.
Thorn next held an appointment at the Training Command HQ before attending the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London during the year 1990. During the year's course he was promoted to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and at the end of the course was appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at HQ RAF Germany in January 1991. He held this post until March 1991 when he became the first Air Commodore to be appointed the Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
The Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment is the Royal Air Force commander of the RAF Regiment. The post was established in January 1942 immediately prior to the creation of the RAF Regiment. The first two holders of the post were major-generals in the British Army. From 1948 onward, the...
whilst holding the post of Director of Fire Services. and Head of the RAF Strike Command Provost Branch.
After he had prematurely retired from the RAF having achieved over 8,000 single seat flying hours and a total of 123 parachute descents, Thorn joined De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
as the Head of Security for the Diamond Company with world wide responsibility. At the same time he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch in December 1995 with the rank of flying officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. In December 1997 he was awarded a Green Endorsement for an instance of Exceptional Flying Skill and Judgement when flying with an Air Training Corps (ATC) cadet in a RAF Tutor aircraft he successfully completed a forced landing back on to the airfield from 350 feet after the engine had failed and the propellor stopped. He was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in 2003. In November 2000, together with the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
Flying Squad
Flying Squad
The Flying Squad is a branch of the Specialist Crime Directorate, within London's Metropolitan Police Service. The Squad's purpose is to investigate commercial armed robberies, along with the prevention and investigation of other serious armed crime...
he was heavily involved in successfully denying an attempt to steal £350 million display of De Beers diamonds (the Millennium Star
Millennium Star
The Millennium Star is a famous diamond owned by De Beers. At 203.04 carats , the world's second largest known top-color , internally and externally flawless, pear-shaped diamond....
and 11 unique Blue Diamonds) from the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
, Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London. In 2005, he retired from De Beers at the age of 60 years and formed his own Security Consultancy Company dealing with the Jewellery Retail Trade and Diamond/Gold Mines.
As a consequence of a change of RAF policy on the maximum age of RAF pilots he was forced to cease flying on 31 January 2010 but he continues to run his consultancy.