Henry Hunter (RAF officer)
Henry John Francis Hunter | |
---|---|
Born | London, England | 29 December 1893
Died | 12 September 1966 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | (aged 72)
Commands held |
|
Battles/wars | Thomas Vicars Hunter (brother) |
Biography
Family background and education
Hunter was the older of the two sons of Henry Charles Vicars Hunter,
World War I
After
Hunter was wounded in 1915 and, following his recovery, was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps later in the year. He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 2872 on 9 May 1916,[1] and was appointed a flying officer on 24 May 1916.[9] On 17 October 1916 he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[10]
He was awarded the
- Captain Henry John Francis Hunter, Rifle Brigade, and Royal Flying Corps.
- "For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has done fine work for the artillery and has accounted for many enemy guns. On one occasion, when a heavy storm drove all other machines back to their aerodromes, and the enemy guns took the opportunity to become active, he remained up and did fine work."[11]
On 1 June 1917 he was appointed squadron commander, with the acting rank of major,
Inter-war career
On 15 January 1919 Hunter was appointed to command of
On 1 March 1921 he was appointed Officer Commanding, No. 12 Squadron RAF[1] part of the Army of Occupation in Germany, based at Bickendorf.[20] He was posted to the RAF Depot at Uxbridge as a supernumerary on 25 May 1922,[1] before attending a course at the Senior Officers' School, Woking, from 26 May to 18 August.[21] On 19 September 1922 he was transferred from the RAF Depot (Inland Area) to the Headquarters of No. 10 Group (Coastal Area) for personnel staff duties.[22] Hunter was transferred to the staff of the RAF Training Base at Leuchars on 8 November 1925,[23] receiving promotion to wing commander on 1 January 1926.[24]
Hunter attended the Royal Naval War College from 14 March 1927, and from 3 January 1928 was Officer Commanding, Flying, aboard the carrier HMS Hermes.[1] From 10 November 1928 Hunter was once again a supernumerary at the RAF Depot at Uxbridge, pending a posting.[25] From 21 January 1929 he attended a staff course at the RAF Staff College, Andover,[26] and on 14 December 1929 he was posted to No. 1 (Apprentices) Wing at the No. 1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton, for administrative duties.[27] Hunter was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1933.[28]
From 6 February 1933 to 16 April 1934 he served as Senior Air Staff Officer, HQ Fighting Area, Uxbridge,[1][29] and served as the commander of the Aircraft Depot at Hinaidi, Iraq, for two years, from 11 November 1934.[30][31] After serving as the station commander of RAF Finningley from 2 February 1937,[32] Hunter was retired from the RAF at own request on 15 June 1939.[33]
World War II
Hunter was recalled to duty on 26 September 1939 to serve in
After the end of the war, on 18 January 1946, Hunter reverted to the retired list, retaining the rank of Air Commodore.[39] He died in Exeter, Devon, on 12 September 1966.[1]
Personal life
Hunter married the Honourable Mrs. Pearson, widow of the Hon. Geoffrey Pearson, on 11 April 1918.[40]
Sporting activities
Hunter was also a keen tennis player, competing at
He fared better against his fellow officers, reaching the final of the RAF Singles Championship in 1925, only to be beaten by the title holder Flying Officer Charles Frederick Roupell.[43] In 1930 he made it through to the third round.[44] However he had the consolation of being RAF Doubles Champion, partnered with Squadron Leader Richard Saul, for several years.[43]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Air Commodore Henry John Francis Hunter". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Vol. I (107th ed.). Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 1169. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ^ Kelly's Directory of the Counties of Derby, Notts, Leicester and Rutland. London. 1891. p. 243. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Henry Charles Vicars Hunter". accessgenealogy.com. 6 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 28687". The London Gazette. 4 February 1913. p. 846.
- ^ "No. 29048". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 January 1915. p. 782.
- ^ "No. 29160". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1915. p. 4631.
- ^ "No. 29527". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 March 1916. p. 3414.
- ^ "No. 29619". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 June 1916. p. 5806.
- ^ "No. 29801". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 October 1916. p. 10378.
- ^ "No. 29793". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 October 1916. p. 10183.
- ^ "No. 30127". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1917. p. 5816.
- ^ "Bomber Command No.9 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Honours: Mentioned in Despatches". Flight. IX (469): 1329. 20 December 1917. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 42 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Bomber Command No.105 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Mentioned in Despatches". Flight. XI (553): 1019. 31 July 1919. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 31932". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1920. p. 6325.
- ^ "No. 31517". The London Gazette. 22 August 1919. p. 10655.
- ^ "Bomber Command No.12 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Senior Officers' School". Flight. XIV (718): 556. 28 September 1922. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (713): 489. 24 August 1922. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force; Appointments". Flight. XVII (880): 739. 5 November 1925. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 33119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1925. p. 10.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XX (1043): 1077. 20 December 1928. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXI (1049): 89. 31 January 1929. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXII (1100): 157. 24 January 1930. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 33898". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1932. p. 16.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVI (1323): 449. 3 May 1924. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVI (1355): 1332. 13 December 1934. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXX (1462): 698. 31 December 1936. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXXI (1469): 178. 18 February 1937. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Service Aviation". Flight. XXXVI (1594): 34. 13 July 1928. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 35284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 September 1941. p. 5567.
- ^ L., Klemen (2000). "The Battle for Palembang". Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Group No's 200–333". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "No. 36033". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1943. p. 2453.
- ^ "No. 36329". The London Gazette. 11 January 1944. p. 286.
- ^ "No. 37526". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 1946. p. 1794.
- ^ "Personals: Married". Flight. X (486): 430. 18 April 1918. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Henry John Francis Hunter". Tennis Archives. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Friedrich Rohrer". Sports Reference. 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ a b "RAF Lawn Tennis". Flight. XVII (865): 474. 23 July 1925. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "RAF Sport: Lawn Tennis". Flight. XXII (1126): 854. 25 July 1930. Retrieved 8 April 2015.