Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Good night to all.
I would like to know the DATE and, if possible, the serial number + codes of the Fairey Battle flown by F/O Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare, while serving with 207 Squadron ( 1938-39 ).
This accident caused him to loose one eye. He later had a distinguished flying career with 23 and 605 Squadron, dying in 1947 while ferrying a Mosquito on SE Pacific.
Thanks in advance for any news about the Fairey Battle accident
Yours
Adriano

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

I had a look for 207 pre war accients and only could find K7585 on 13/14 December 1938 in which Pilot Officer Phillip Charles Rolls was killed - He is listedas the pilot, but there must have been a crew of at least 3. The aircraft undershot and hit a tree on night approach to Cottesmore and then became ground instructional trainer 1787M

I have NO proof this is the incident you are after but all other accidents I can see resulted in all crew being killed

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Also L4967 on 23/03/1939.

I don't have any other details other than it was a 207 aircraft.

However:

Quote:

Some time around the outbreak of War he was flying in a Battle from Cranfield with Douglas Wilson. He was hit by a loose engine cowling which greatly damaged his face, taking an eye out of its socket. How he got the aircraft back - a hairy landing - was just incredible. After about six months in hospital it was discovered that the damaged eye had unusual night vision.

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/angell/1939.htm

It seems to imply that it wasn't a crash as such.

A

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Hello Amrit1 and Paul.
I was aware of the site of 207 Squadron´s Association, where I researched. But there is NO positive identification of the serial number neither the codes of the aircraft involved.
As you put correctly Amrit, there was another member ( Wilson ) of the Squadron with him. He landed all right, although severly injured.
Can you confirm the serial number as being L4967 an the date of the incident on 23/03/1939?
Thank you for your kind contribution and help.
Yours
Adriano

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

It now seems unlikely to have been 23/03/1939 as there is a picture of him taken in July 1938 with 207. As it has been stated that he was off for 6 months, it looks to be an incident after then

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.u...ore_angell.htm

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Adriano,

Try this website: http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/angell/1939.htm

Fellow crew memebr was Douglas Wilson and it happened at RAF Cranfield.

There was a change in command in October 1939 after Hoare's accident.

No use in looking for a Fairey Battle crash, for there was none.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Thank you Leendert.
I am not looking for a crash as you said, but to positively identifying the DATE of the accident who cost Hoare an eye! I am aware that thanks to his luck and skill he managed to land the aircraft undamaged with only one eye and already injured.
What I do not know is the actual date he lost his eye...But thanks again for your kind answer and contribution
Adriano

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Possibles

Afer War declared 207 Accidents

19.09.39 Battle I K9448 207 Sqn Winchcombe, Glos. flew into high ground
23.10.39 Battle I L5185 207 Sqn Not known crashed in forced landing
22.11.39 Battle I K9192 207 Sqn 4 m W of Wyton crashed in forced landing
28.11.39 Battle I L5279 207 Sqn Bassingbourn crashed on take off

the Forced Landing on 23.10.39 may be a possible




Ignore this

"39636 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Alistair Bannerman Lennie.
Battle 1. L5185 On the 23 Oct 39, Pilot Officer A.B Lennie, whilst attached to 207 Sqn from RAF Mildenhall, was involved in a flying accident. He crash landed at dusk in bad visibility. Total flying hours 400, on type 43 hours. "

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

The incident occurred in either late September or early October 1939:

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...1968/Hoare.jpg

That is the full Obit from The Times (April 1947)

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

There is no casualty card for him at the AHB. The only other avenue is the Disclosures department at Cranwell but they will not give away personal details unless it is to NoK. However, the AHB is searching the Accident cards for me-no promises!
AHB confirm the names on the accident cards listed above are not Hoare or Wilson so maybe it was pre-war and if so, only deaths are recorded

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Paul, Amrit and Leendert!
I do thank to both of you the kind contribution and help in discovering this incident. I had tried some links with 207 Squadron, but got no joy. Being so famous and, as far as I do remember, one of the few ( if not the only one ) to fly "blind of one eye" with the RAF during the Second World War, I do not know why or how there is no information available about him on the sites or archives...maybe, as Chris positively admited: being a pre-war incident as well as not having caused material damages, it was forgotten...
Chris, do you have any suggestion to where to look now on? From the information you posted, the access to Cranwell´s Archives will be restricted to people like me, isn´t it? Someone do possess the 207 Squadron´s pre-war ORBs?
I would like to, again, say my sincere thanks to both of you on your kind contribution and help.
Sincerely yours
Adriano

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Adriano: I am afraid that I cannot help or suggest any further avenues. Still no joy in Venezuela?

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Hi Adriano

I will have a look in 207's ORB for you when I next visit Kew (hopefully next week)

Hope that may help.
Cheers
Brian

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

AIR 81/1578 1939 Jan 01- 1939 Dec 31 Flight Lieutenant B R O Hoare: injured; Battle L4966, 207 Squadron; aircraft accident, 6 October 1939

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Hi Paul

Congratulations for perseverance.

Hope Adriano sees this!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Bertie Rex O´Bryen Hoare accident with a Fairey Battle
 

Dear Paul McMillan,

DO HAVE NO WORDS to express MY GRATITUDE!!!!

I am a real fan of "Bertie" Hoare, DSO, DFC...and really believe he merit a FULL biography. Maybe one of you, British or Famous writers can start that work....I wished I could write about this particular airman and his full life.

There are so many forgotten RAF Heroes to write about that one could pass one life in doing so. For foreigners "sprog" writers and researchers, like me, it is almost impossible to have access to his RAF Record and Memorablia....

I heard and read, from former Mosquito airmen that flew under Hoare's Command, that he was a real "character" and a LEADER.

If one day, a biography arise, I shall be one of the first readers...Perhaps some members of the Family can think about...

BRIAN and Chris GOSS...Thanks for all the support with this thread. I have been away from this Fórum for some months, due to a new member on my crew: my son of almost 1 year of age... Am training him to be a good (air)MAN, of Peace, of Valours, etc...someething I have learned from and praised, from the very few contacts I had during those 25+ years of researches with some RAF, USAAF and LW former WW2 veterans.

SEMPER FI