Captain Thompson was a crew member of a C-47A Skytrain transport with the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, "Kyushu Gypsies", 374th Troop Carrier Wing. On 15 October 1950, the aircraft was en route from Kimpo Air Base, Korea, to Brady Air Base, Japan, when it crashed. He was listed as Missing in Action while participating in aerial support over Korea He was presumed dead on 5 October 1951. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Thompson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.