Lt. Col. Matthew Thompson, AC, Commandant of Marine Training School
Born January 31, 1906 in Newcastle-on Tyne, England, Lt Col Thompson entered the British Navy in 1918. During the next 20 years, he worked as a navigating officer, British Merchant Marine, Staff Officer, and Master, American Merchant Marine. He entered the Army Air Forces in April 1942 where he graduated from the first class of Officers' Training School, Miami, Florida. An assignment as Port Air Officer, Charleston Port of Embarkation began a string of temporary assignments to various ports both in the US and overseas to Port organizations. In July 1944, he was assigned as Commandant of the Mobile Air Service Command, Marine Training School to train Officers and enlisted of Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) and Aircraft Maintenance Units (Floating) in basic marine operations prior to boarding their vessels.