Squadron Leader Hilary Richard Lionel Hood, DFC

Significant Flying Log Book Entries


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© Philip Harvey; no reproduction without permission, please.


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08/09/27 First flight with FO Rawson in Avro J8533 for 15 minutes at 1800 hours 'Experience Flight'
06/02/28 First flight as pilot.
01/05/28 Report states "You are doing a lot of aerobatics.  Concentrate on accurate flying for a little as too much aerobatics teach bad habits."
04/12/28 First solo flight of 5 minutes duration at 1000 hours in BF E2624.
04/02/29 Crashed on landing in BF F4939.
04/03/29 "Landings Bad."  Self-criticism.
06/03/29 "Landings and Flying very bad."
07/03/29 "Landings & Flying hopeless."
Later "Landings quite hopeless. Flying OK."
26/03/29 First solo in DH9a
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From this point onwards the log contains entries relating to the particular activities being learnt:  Turns, landings, Immelmanns, gliding turns, side slip landings, forced landings, cross-wind landings and take-offs, slow rolls, loops, half loops, pinpointing, message dropping etc.
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07/05/29 Started flying Siskins
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Report by 'B' Squadron OC RAF Cranwell "Proficiency as pilot on type:- above the average: Special faults in flying which must be watched:- Rather hot-headed occasionally.  Improved a lot lately & should do very well..."
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27/07/29 Posted to No.23(F) Sqdn Kenley. (Pilot Officer (5569))
25/08/29 DRS Bader posted to Squadron
12/10/29 Flying 8071: CC Kenley - Cardington - N Weald. Kenley Formations FL Fairweather and Sgt Searle to see Airship R101
21/11/29 Flying J8071: Kenley - Northolt. Saw SL Jones Williams flying Fairey Monoplane
03/12/29 Flying J8071: Battle Flight climb and camera gun practice
06/12/29 Flying 8408: Test new airscrew fitted. Aerobatics
03/01/30 Report by OC No.23(Fighter) Sqdn: "Is inclined to overconfidence."
27/03/30 Flying 8412: Forced landed with seized engine
31/03/30 Flying 8406: Interception of bombers in flight formation
14/06/30 Flying 8071: Local Hendon. Display Practice
28/06/30 Flying 8071: Air Display & CC to Hendon
13/08/30 Flying 8071: 'Raid to Andover.'
01/09/30 Attached to Armament & Gunnery School Eastchurch. "Satisfactory Progress"
24/09/30 Flying 8073: Aerobatic display at Sheerness
27/01/31 Promoted to Flying Officer (1131)
28/04/31 Flying 8408: Engine cut taking off. Aircraft written off
Slightly Injured
19/05/31 Attached to RAF Training base Leuchars. Practicing formation aerobatics. Flycatcher & IIIF.
07/06/31 Flying 1290: Formation aerobatics in display. Renfrew
21/07/31 Flying 1332: Took two army officers for 45 minute air experience trip
17/08/31 Gosport. Dummy deck landings. Passed 80%
01/09/31 HMS Courageous dummy deck landings in Flycatcher S9954. Passed 75%
04/09/31 No.23(F) Sqdn. Kenley, flying Harts
14/11/31 Posted to No.403 (Fleet Fighter) HMS Hermes and RAF Base Kai Tak, China. Usual aircraft 1414, but also flying 1412 and 1416
29/04/32 Machine gun and bombing attack on Hermes
22/07/32 Flying Seaplane IIIF S1479: Took Lt Cmdrs Deane and Sherwood around Wei Hai Wei carrying out local photography of ships in anchorage
16/12/32 Flying Flycatcher 9920: Mai Po. Dropped message for Newbigging on P&O
18/04/33 Flying 9919: Last flight local Kai Tak
23/08/33 To CFS Wittering for 41st Flying Instruction Course. Taught by FO Selway and met up again with FO Fairtlough. Flying Avro, Harts and Bulldogs
Category C Instructor
16/11/33 Qualified to instruct on Instrument Flying
22/11/33 Posted to RAF base Leuchars to instruct mainly instrument flying, using Avro 1988 and 1801
22/08/34 Re-category to B Instructor
27/01/35 Promoted to Flight Lieutenant (1174)
06/06/35 Moved to Novar
08/08/35 Re-category to A2 Instructor
23/09/35 Moved to Wittering as OC 'A' Flight as Flight Lieutenant, flying Harts
27/06/36 Flying Tutor 3271: Hendon RAF Display
27/10/36 23(F) Sqdn Biggin Hill, mainly flying Demon K2847
04/12/36 Sciatica - 12 days sick leave. Limit 5000ft.
11/01/37 Health status A/B
13/12/36 501 County of Gloucester (B) Squadron, mainly flying Hart 6485
22/03/37 RAF Sealand Commanding No.7 Flight No.5 FTS
21/12/37 Attended No.3 Air Firing Instructors course at No.8 ATC
21/12/37 OC No.9 Flight ATS RAF Sealand
28/06/38 University Air Squadron, RAF Duxford, flying Harts & Tutors
01/08/38 Promoted to Squadron Leader (4971)
28/09/38 Uxbridge Hospital Sciatica
28/12/38 Septic Tonsils - return to Jacobs Ladder
12/01/39 Chief Flying Instructor No.10 FTS Tern Hill
07/02/39 Anson 8721: Tern Hill
20/04/39 Harvard 7025: Formation flying with PO Strachan, FL Oliver, FL Black, FO Coalk
13/05/39 Anson 5039 with party to St Athan
20/05/39 Flying Fury 8284 and 8299. Empire Air Day
15/06/39 Anson 5039: PO Barber, PO Silk, PO Strachan to Shawbury
23/08/39 First flight in Spitfire for 30 minutes duration
03/09/39 War declared 11.15 am
23/02/40 DWI Wellington with FSgt Burrows, LT Lyle, LT Elliot, LT Thompson minesweeping
29/03/40 Destroyed two mines
11/04/40 Formation with SL Purvis and FO Hamilton in other Wellingtons with HRLH leading
20/04/40 Catterick to command 41(F) Squadron
05/09/40 Death Presumed CC List No. 495
27/05/41 DFC awarded (3024)
13/05/55 Projected retirement age
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