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Royal Air Force (RAF) Officers
1939-1945

 

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F.F.W. Hall  to  A.F. Hutton
Hall,
Francis Frederick Walby
F.F.W. Hall (Photo courtesy of Mr André M. Steenkamp)
06.04.1902
Romford district, Essex
-
Fl. Cadet
?
P/O
15.08.1923 [16095]
F/O
15.02.1925
F/Lt.
20.03.1929
Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936
W/Cdr.
01.01.1940 (retd 16.04.1947; retaining rank of Gp.Capt.)
(T) Gp.Capt.
01.03.1942
Education: RAF College, Cranwell
15.08.1923


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch)



qualified at specialist photographic course; completed satisfactorily a course at the Military or Naval Staff College



served at some time at Waterkloof Air Station Pretoria
Hall,
Frederick Walter Hick
F.W.H. Hall
01.09.1906
-
P/O
18.07.1925
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937
Gp.Capt.
01.07.1949 (retd 28.12.1950)



qualified at specialist armament course
Hall,
Geoffrey Henry
G.H. Hall
?
-
Sq.Ldr. (retd)
01.01.1925
Air Force Cross AFC
?
?
       
Hamilton,
Benjamin Henry Noel Hans
B.H.N.H. Hamilton (Photo courtesy of Mr Robin Clay) B.H.N.H. Hamilton (Photo courtesy of Mr Robin Clay)
Eldest son of Henry B.H. Hamilton & Margaret G. Bond-Cabball.
Brother of Lt.Cdr. George Cecil Hans Hamilton, RNVR.
Married 1st (07.07.1906) Ida, 3rd daughter of Percy Mortimer, JP of Ashe Park; ons son, two daughters.
MArried 2nd (03.1931) Vronwy, daughter of John Edwards of Aberystwith; one son.
25.12.1882
London
-
13.11.1969
T/Lt. RNVR
03.04.1915
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1918 (retd 05.08.1925) [01163] (recalled 25.08.1939) (reverted to retd 21.03.1945; retaining rank of W/Cdr.)
Distinguished Service Order DSO
03.06.1918
?
Mention in Despatches MID
01.01.1919
Flanders
WW I


served in Royal  Naval Air Service; raced "Tweedledum" and "Tweedledee" Peugots at Brooklands, 1920s
01.04.1918
 
 
first commission, RAF
03.10.1919
 
 
permanent commission, RAF (General Duties Branch)
01.10.1919
-
?
Staff Officer, 1st Class, Air Ministry (temporary)
Raced "Tweedledum" and "Tweedledee" Peugeots at Brooklands, 1920s.
WW II


served in RAF (W/Cdr).; first to  plot and track submarines on radio wave length, and to broadcast from France
24.04.1940
 
 
transferred, Technical Branch
Hamilton,
[John *] Eric Vivian Colclough
E.V.C. Hamilton (Photo courtesy of Mrs Kath Jones)
* added this towards the end of his life
One of four sons and two daughters of Bernard Montague Champion Hamilton, and Hilda Katherine Fendell, daughter of Maj.Gen. Fendall Currie, Comr. of Fysabad.
Married 1st (30.04.1918) Norah Fitzmaurice, daughter of Col. John Colly Burkitt, RAMC (marriage dissolved); one son (Lt.Cdr. John Colley Colclough Hamilton, RN).
Married 2nd (29.06.1949, Vancouver) Marion Eunice, daughter of John Colborne Coote of Vancouver B.C.
22.11.1896
Fyzabad Up, India
-
26.06.1964
Army:

T/2nd Lt.
22.12.1914
T/Lt.
?
Lt.
15.10.1921, seniority 02.07.1915 (reld 10.1922)
RAF / RCAF:

Lt.
01.04.1918 (Aeroplane & Seaplane Officer)
Sq.Ldr.
? (reld 06.11.1945)

World War I: Victory Medal; British War Medal; 1914-1915 Star

Education: Cheltenham College; Royal Military College, Sandhurst
22.12.1914


commissioned, 4th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment - Territorial Force
01.07.1915
-
1917
served in Gallipoli and France - Royal Flying Corps (No. 4 A.A.B. RAF)
1918
-
1919
test pilot, Royal Flying Corps
1920
-
1922
3rd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment (served in India at Bareilly, Fyzabad, NW Frontier, Ishapore, Dum-dum, Chaubattia & Naini-tal)



emigrated to Canada



reactivated with Western Air Command RCAF as armament officer & staff officer operational requirements



served Costal Command RAF
Hanbury,
Henry Theobald
H.T. Hanbury
Son of Charles and Ethel May Hanbury (née Cranham), of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Brother of Sq.Ldr. Reginald Lewis Hanbury, RAF.
(06?).1917
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
-
20.11.1946
[age 29]
[Suez War Memorial Cemetery, 5.A.4]
Sgt.
? [527016]
P/O (prob)
20.05.1943 [52166]
(WS) F/O (prob)
20.11.1943
(WS) F/Lt.
20.05.1945
F/Lt.
31.12.1946, seniority 20.11.1946



joined RAF just before the war & served in the ranks
20.05.1943
 
 
first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
09.05.1946


extended service commission
?
-
20.11.1946
Flight Engineer, 511 Squadron RAF
[flying accident, 50 miles southeast of Cairo on a return journey from England to India]
Hanbury,
Reginald Lewis
R.L. Hanbury
Son of Charles and Ethel May Hanbury (née Cranham), of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Married Norma Ruth Hanbury (née ...).
Brother of F/Lt. Henry Theobald Hanbury, RAF.
(09?).1913
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
-
08.06.1944
[age 30]
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 200]
(T) F/Sgt.
? [563974]
P/O (prob)
01.04.1940 [43690]
P/O
01.04.1941
(WS) F/O
11.02.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
11.02.1942
(A) or (T) Sq.Ldr.
1943?
01.04.1940
 
 
first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
08.06.1944
254 Squadron RAF
Hancock,
Charles Ronald
C.R. Hancock
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
?
?
Education: psa
       
Hankins,
Maurice Henry
M.H. Hankins
(03?).1915
Portsmouth district, Hampshire
-
1990
Hampshire
(A) P/O (prob)
02.09.1939 [42602]
P/O (prob)
18.02.1940
P/O
10.07.1940
(WS) F/O
18.02.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
18.02.1942
F/Lt.
01.11.1947, seniority 01.01.1943 (reld 10.07.1963; retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
(A) Sq.Ldr.
1943?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
15.10.1943
?
Mention in Despatches MID
01.01.1943
?
02.09.1939
 
 
commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
(1943)


199 Squadron RAF
10.07.1945
 
 
transferred, Reserve of Air Force Officers (and called up for air force service)
13.10.1948
-
10.07.1963

transferred to Class "A"; granted an extension of service for three years and transferred to Class "C" with effect from 10th July 1949, followed by several other extensions of service

Hardy,
Stephen Haistwell
S.H. Hardy
?
-
Sq.Ldr. 01.10.1936
Education: psa
      qualified at a specialist course in engineering
Harriman,
Douglas Sidney Reeve
D.S.R. Harriman
Second son of Sidney Reeve Harriman (1873-1939), and May Harriman (née Clare), of North Ealing, London.
Married ((12?).1939, Brentford district, London)  Mary Margaret Evans.
18.02.1920
Holborn, St Giles district, London
-
25.05.1940
(KIA) [age 20]
[St Inglevert Churchyard, France, collective grave]
[commemorated at the Ealing Common War Memorial]
(A) P/O (prob)
01.04.1939 [41846]
P/O (prob)
21.10.1939
P/O
23.01.1940
Education: Gate House School, Kingston Hill, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey
Trained as a quantity surveyor at London Polytechnic before joining the RAF in 1938.
1938
-
01.03.1939
No. 13 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School RAF (White Waltham Aerodrome, Maidenhead, Berkshire)
01.04.1939
 
 
commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
19.06.1939


No. 13 Flying Training School RAF (Drem, East Lothian, Scotland)
?

-

25.05.1940

pilot, 15 Squadron RAF
[on 15.05.1940 he flew his Blenheim L8856 over the Belgian coast when his starboard propeller fell off & made a forced landing at the Grote Boom-Polder near Aardenburg, The Netherlands]
[on 25.05.1940 he was airborne at 1027 hrs from Wyton in his Blenheim P6913; shot down near St-Inglevert (Pas-de-Calais), midway on the main road between Calais and Marquise, France; complete crew was killed]

Harris,
Guy
G. Harris
1918 ?
-
15.02.2007
West Sussex
[aged 89]
(A) P/O (prob)
23.03.1936
F/O
27.07.1938
Sq.Ldr.
01.06.1944
W/Cdr.
?
23.03.1936


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
(09.1939)


32 Squadron RAF (Biggin Hill)
(05.1940)


253 Squadron RAF (battle for France)
1940
-
?
Flying Instructor, 56 Officer Training Unit
Harris,
Sydney Herbert Verder
S.H.V. Harris
01.06.1905
Romford district, Essex
-
P/O
17.12.1924
Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1937
Gp.Capt.
01.10.1946 (retd 01.07.1955)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) CBE
?
?
Education: psa
       
Harris,
Vorley
V. Harris
13.08.1899
-
P/O
04.07.1922
Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1936
W/Cdr.
01.01.1940
(T) Gp.Capt.
01.12.1941 (retd 15.02.1945; retaining rank of Gp.Capt.)
Education: psa
04.07.1922     first commission
     
Harrison,
Arnold Thomas
A.T. Harrison
Son of John Edward Harrison, and Dorothy Rose Harrison (née Balfour).
(09?).1912
Solihill district, Warwickshire / West Midlands / Worcestershire
-
23.08.1940
(KIA) [age 28]
[South Ealing Cemetery, A.C.6]
(A) P/O (prob)
02.09.1939 [42604]
P/O (prob)
29.04.1940
02.09.1939


commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
?
-
23.08.1940
pilot, 224 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
[the Hudson I N7244 QX, after having taken off at 12.15 hrs at Leuchars, crashed into a river near Leuchars due to unknown causes; Harrison died in the crash]
Harrison,
Cecil Walter
C.W. Harrison
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1937
       
Hart,
Raymund George
R.G. Hart
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.10.1936
Military Cross MC
?
?
Education: psa
      qualified at specialist signals course; qualified by examination as interpreter
Harvey,
George David
G.D. Harvey
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1937
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
?
?
       
Hatcher,
Charles James Wilfred
C.J.W. Hatcher
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1937
Air Force Cross AFC
?
?
      qualified at specialist armament course
Hatcher,
Victor George Aidan
V.G.A. Hatcher
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937
Air Force Cross AFC
?
?
      qualified at specialist signals course
Haw,
Charlton
"Wag"
C. Haw
08.05.1920
-
11.1993
Surrey South-Western
F/Sgt.
? [745259]
P/O (prob)
06.03.1942 [117992]
(T) F/O
1942/43?
F/O
24.06.1946 [extended service]
(WS) F/Lt.
17.05.1943
F/Lt.
10.02.1946
(A) Sq.Ldr.
? (retd 19.09.1951)
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
17.10.1944
?
Distinguished Flying Medal DFM
23.01.1942
*
- Lenin
31.03.1942
Order of Lenin (USSR)
* This airman has been employed on operational flying since June, 1940. He fought in the Battle of Britain and since then he has participated in numerous convoy patrols and in escorts to bomber aircraft on daylight raids. He has destroyed 3 enemy aircraft. Flight Sergeant Haw has displayed admirable qualities as a fighter pilot.



trained as a lithographer
1939


joined RAFVR
05.1940
-
(09.1940)
504 Squadron
(1941)


151 Wing (Murmansk, USSR)
(1942)


81 Squadron RAF
06.03.1942


first commission
(1944)


129 Squadron RAF
(1944)


commanded RAF squadron at Coolham Airfield, West Sussex, and took part in invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord)
(1948)


Commanding Officer, 65 Squadron RAF (Sweden)

27.09.1940
    victories:
1 Bf 110
Hawkings,
John Alfred
J.A. Hawkings
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937
      qualified at specialist engineering course
Hayes,
Guy Wingfield
G.W. Hayes
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1937
      qualified at a specialist course in engineering
Hayward,
Cecil Hugh
C.H. Hayward
12.07.1887
-
P/O
01.04.1918 [02178]
Sq.Ldr.
30.06.1923 (retd 22.07.1925) (recalled 25.08.1939-09.12.1943)
Education: psa
       
Healey,
Ernest Alton
E.A. Healey
29.01.1900
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1937
W/Cdr.
?
(T) Gp.Capt.
01.03.1942 (retd 02.11.1946)
16.08.1922     first commission
       
Heard,
Cyril Montagu
C.M. Heard
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.04.1937
Education: psa
      qualified at specialist armament course
Heath,
Alick Charles
C.M. Heard
Son of Eli Paul and Emily Heath, of Bellville, Cape Province, South Africa.
1915 ?
-
09.05.1940
[age 25]
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 4]
(A) P/O (prob)
16.04.1935 [37173]
P/O
16.04.1936
F/O
16.11.1937
(A) F/Lt.
06.12.1938
F/Lt.
05.12.1939
16.04.1935


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]
?
-
09.05.1940
254 Squadron RAF
[took off from Hatston at 16.20 hrs in his Blenheim IV [L9482 QY-] as fighter escort for eight FAA Skua aircraft tasked with attacking shipping in Bergen Harbour, Norway, then independent light bombing; the Blenheim was hit by Flak and was last seen spinning into the harbour]
Hedley,
Christopher Hetherington
C.H. Hedley
Married Pamela ...; at least one son.
30.04.1921
-
27.12.2004
Los Angeles, Cal., USA
Wt.Offr.
? [572496]
P/O (prob)
01.05.1944 [56141]
P/O
01.11.1944
(WS) F/O
01.11.1944
(WS) F/Lt.
01.05.1946
F/O
17.07.1947, seniority 01.05.1945
F/Lt.
01.11.1947 (retd 17.07.1954)
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
1943?
?
01.05.1944
 
 
first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
17.07.1947

17.07.1954 
extended service commission
Henwood,
Francis Herbert Donald
F.H.D. Henwood
30.09.1896
Reading, Berkshire
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1937
W/Cdr.
01.03.1940
(A) Gp.Capt.
? (retd 27.10.1946)
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
?
?
01.04.1918


first commission RAF
...
-
...
...
Herrick,
Brian Henry
B.H. Herrick
One of six sons & two daughters *  of Edward Jasper Herrick, and Ethne Rose Herrick.
Brother of:
P/O D.T. Herrick, RNZAF

Sq.Ldr. M.J. Herrick, RAF
Cdr. L.E. Herrick, RN
Capt. T.D. Herrick, RN

* one of which married Gen. Sir Nigel Poett
1915
Hastings, New Zealand
-
24.11.1940
[age 25]
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 6]

(A) P/O (prob)
24.04.1939 [42003]
P/O (prob)
06.11.1939
P/O
06.03.1940
F/O
06.11.1940
Education: Wanganui Collegiate School
24.04.1939


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]



236 Squadron RAF
?
-
24.11.1940
pilot, 272 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
[killed in action on a convoy escort; taken off at Aldergrove in his Blenheim IV [Z5734 XK-D] the plane found the wrong convoy and was involved in a dogfight with a Fairey Fulmar; the Blenheim stalled off a turn and dived into the North Channel, which killed Herrick and his two crew members]
Herrick,
Michael James
M.J. Herrick (Photo: New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum)
One of six sons & two daughters * of Edward Jasper Herrick, and Ethne Rose Herrick.
Brother of:
F/O B.H. Herrick, RAF
P/O D.T. Herrick, RNZAF
Cdr. L.E. Herrick, RN
Capt. T.D. Herrick, RN

biography at New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum

* one of which married Gen. Sir Nigel Poett
05.05.1921
Hastings, New Zealand
-
16.06.1944
[age 23]
[Frederikshavn Cemetery, Allied plot, grave 66]

Flight Cadet
?
P/O (prob)
07.03.1940 [33566]
P/O
07.03.1941
(WS) F/O
07.03.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
07.03.1942
(A) Sq.Ldr.
?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
24.09.1940
*
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
22.02.1944

gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy in the Solomon Islands

Air Medal (USA) AM
14.06.1945
Pacific [posthumously]
* During an interception patrol on the night of 4th September, 1940, Pilot Officer Herrick sighted two enemy aircraft and destroyed them both. In his attack against the second aircraft he succeeded in closing to within thirty yards and it fell in pieces under his fire.
Education: Wanganui Collegiate School; RAF College, Cranwell (04.1939)
07.03.1940


first commission, RAF (General Duties Branch) [permanent commission]
17.03.1940
-
1941
25 Squadron RAF
12.1941


posted back to New Zealand for attachment to RNZAF
23.12.1941
-
02.1942
instructor, Flying Training School at Woodbourne
02.1942
-
06.1942
moved to Ohakea
06.1942
-
03.1943
Flight Commander, 15 Squadron RNZAF at Whenuapai
03.1943
-
12.1943
Commanding Officer, 15 Squadron RNZAF
01.1944
-
16.06.1944
Flight Commander, 305 (Polish) Squadron RAF
[shot down in his Mosquito VI [NS913 "T"] by a Fw190 of Jagdgeschwader I and baled out over the sea, while on an "Ranger" operation to Denmark; his body washed ashore 04.07.1944]
Herrington,
Charles [Rigby]
C. Herrington (Photo courtesy of Mr Mike Herrington)
12.12.1901
-
09.1966
Wt.Offr.
? [349451]
F/O (prob)
25.01.1941, seniority 24.12.1940 [45254]
F/O
25.01.1942
(T) F/Lt.
01.06.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
01.01.1943
F/Lt.
01.05.1947, seniority 01.07.1941
(A) Sq.Ldr.
(1943)
(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.01.1946-01.11.1947
Sq.Ldr.
01.11.1947, seniority 01.08.1947 (retd 01.06.1954)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) MBE
02.06.1943
HM's birthday 43
Mention in Despatches MID
29.06.1948
Palestine
25.01.1941
 
 
first commission, RAF (Equipment Branch) [emergency commission to 30.04.1947]
01.05.1947


extended service commission
Hodder,
Francis Samuel
F.S. Hodder
?
-
Sq.Ldr. 01.02.1937
Education: psa
      qualified at a specialist course in engineering
Hodges,
[Sir] Lewis Macdonald
"Bob"
F.S. Hodder
Son of late Arthur Macdonald Hodges and Gladys Mildred Hodges.
Married (1950) Elisabeth Mary, eldest daughter of late G.H. Blackett, MC; two sons.

Telegraph obituary
01.03.1918
Richmond, Surrey
-
04.01.2007
P/O
17.12.1938
... ...
Air Chief Marshal
01.05.1971 (retd 02.05.1976)

KCB 1968 (CB 1963); CBE 1958; DSO 1944 and Bar 1945; DFC 1942 and Bar 1943; DL.

Education: St Paul's School; RAF College, Cranwell
17.12.1938


first commission RAF
Bomber Command, 1938-1944; SE Asia (India, Burma, Ceylon), 1944-1945; Palestine, 1945-1947; Air Ministry and Min. of Defence, 1948-1952; Bomber Command, 1952-1959; Asst Comdt, RAF Coll., Cranwell, 1959-1961; AO i/c Admin., Middle East Comd, Aden, 1961-1963; Imperial Def. Coll., 1963; SHAPE, 1964-1965; Ministry of Defence, Asst Chief of Air Staff (Ops), 1965-1968; AOC-in-C, RAF Air Support Comd, 1968-1970; Air Mem. for Personnel, MoD, 1970-1973; Dep. C-in-C, Allied Forces Central Europe, 1973-1976, retired. Air ADC to the Queen, 1973-1976. Dir, Pilkington Bros Ltd (Optical Div.), 1979-1983; Governor, BUPA Med. Foundn Ltd, 1987-1995; Chm. of Governors, Duke of Kent School, 1979-1986; Chm., RAF Benevolent Fund Educn Cttee, 1979-1986; Pres., RAF Escaping Soc., 1979-; Pres., Royal Air Forces Assoc., 1981-1984. DL Kent, 1992. Grand Officier, Légion d'Honneur (France), 1988 (Commandeur, 1950); Croix de Guerre (France), 1944.
Hollingworth,
Frederick Valentine
F.V. Hollingworth
14.02.1900
Ormskirk, Lancs.
-
(A) P/O (prob)
1942? [121423]
P/O (prob)
27.07.1942, seniority 30.06.1942
(WS) F/O (prob)
27.01.1943
F/O
24.04.1947, seniority 27.07.1944
F/Lt.
25.04.1947, seniority 27.11.1946 (reld 24.04.1955)
1942?


commissioned, RAF (Administrative and Special Duties Branch)
24.04.1947


transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch
24.04.1951


transferred to RAF Reserve of Officers [General Duties Branch] (and called up for air force service)
24.04.1952
-
24.04.1955
reverted to RAF Reserve of Officers
Holmes,
William Tatham
W.T. Holmes
?
-
Sq.Ldr. 01.02.1937
Education: psa
      qualified at specialist signals course
Hopkins,
Edward Donald MacLulich
E.D.M. Hopkins
?
-
Sq.Ldr.
01.02.1937



qualified at specialist armament course
Horrex,
Charles Edwin
C.E. Horrex
Married; at least one son (F/Lt. Edwin Philip Andrew Horrex, RAFVR).
10.07.1899
Wandsworth, London
-
P/O
01.04.1918 [07162]
F/O
12.09.1919 [short service commission]
</