Thomas L. Purdom

Captain Thomas Laurence Purdom was a World War I flying ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories.

Purdom served originally in the ground forces. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2 for 15 Squadron during most of 1916. He was willing enough to fight the Germans, but none of his many combats showed success. When he transferred to 62 Squadron, he also changed to a newer airplane, the Bristol F.2 Fighter and to the new status of Flight Commander. Beginning with a double win on 21 March 1918, he and gunner/observer Lieutenant Percival Chambers were aces within a week. They continued to win and became double aces on 15 May. Two days later, they completed their dozen victories together with another double win over Armentieres. They had destroyed five enemy airplanes, including one win shared with the crew of William Ernest Staton and John Rutherford Gordon. Their other eight victories were of the "driven down out of control" category.

On 19 May 1918, Purdom and gunner William Norman Holmes drove a Fokker D.VII down out of control northwest of Douai. This was Purdom's thirteenth victory, and Holmes' sixth.