Jack Hunt (RAF officer)

(Redirected from Frederick Hunt (aviator))

Lieutenant Frederick John Hunt was an English World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.

Frederick John Hunt
Nickname(s)"Jack"
Born1899
Whitchurch, Hampshire, England
Died17 March 1954
Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchAviation
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 74 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Early life edit

Hunt was born in Whitchurch, Hampshire, England in 1899 the son of Frederick and Emily Hunt, his father was a coal and corn merchant. He would not be old enough for military duty until late in World War I; his earliest known record of service is 1918.[1]

World War I edit

Hunt was stationed with 74 Squadron in July 1918. He became a balloon buster for his first aerial victory on 1 September 1918, and would win over another balloon and seven of Germany's finest fighter of the war, the Fokker D.VII, by war's end. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross after his seventh victory, though it would not be gazetted until 1 February 1919.[2]

List of aerial victories edit

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 1 September 1918 @ 1350 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number E5967 Observation balloon Destroyed Northeast of Armentières
2 4 September 1918 @ 1930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Half a mile south of Lille
3 17 September 1918 @ 1845 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D6967 Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed North of Courtrai
4 21 September 1918 @ 1840 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Destroyed Lille
5 26 October 1918 @ 1455 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Destroyed Cordes
6 26 October 1918 @ 1455 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Cordes
7 27 October 1918 @ 0940 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n C1137 Observation balloon Destroyed Molenbaix
8 30 October 1918 @ 0820 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Destroyed De Klype
9 30 October 1918 @ 0825 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed Quaremont [3][4]

Post World War I edit

On 31 March 1923, Hunt and Roland John Neale dissolved their partnership in "The Whitchurch Engineering Works". The firm's business was motor, agricultural, and general engineering.[5]

Hunt was living in Ellisfield when his marriage to Frances Ann Selmer of Valparaíso, Chile was set for 29 September 1927.[6]

References edit

  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman L. R.; Guest, Russell. Above The Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.

Endnotes edit

  1. ^ "Frederick John Hunt". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  2. ^ Shores, et al, p. 204.
  3. ^ "Frederick John Hunt". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  4. ^ Shores, et al, p. 204.
  5. ^ (The London Gazette, 24 April 1923, p. 2998.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32817/pages/2998 Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  6. ^ (Flight, 15 September 1927, p. 658.) http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1948/1948%20-%200612.html?search=Frederick%20Hunt Retrieved 8 August 2011.