Re: New book - Group Captain Bertie Hoare, RAF

[Edward]

Mosquito Night Intruder Ace: Wing Commander Bertie Rex O'Bryen Hoare DFC & Bar, DSO & Bar
(Air World, imprint of Pen & Sword - 28 February 2023)
by Danny Burt
240 pages - hardcover

"Bertie Rex O'Bryen Hoare was born on 6 June 1912. Having been educated at Harrow and Wye Agricultural College, Sammy', as he was often known to friends and family, entered the RAF on a short-service commission in 1936. In October 1938, whilst piloting a Fairy Battle Bertie sustained a serious injury from a piece of loose piece of aircraft cowling. This incident resulted in him being totally blinded in one eye. Though he was initially grounded, his determination to return to the air never diminished. The outbreak of war in September 1939, saw his wish be granted when Bertie was given permission to return to operational flying duties. Bertie was posted to 23 Squadron, which was flying Blenheims at the time. The squadron then converted to Havocs, the crews being tasked with undertaking out night-time operations over Occupied Europe. Despite his restricted night vision and depth perception, Bertie went on to became one of the RAF's leading advocates in the art of what was known as intruder operations'. In the months and years that followed, Bertie served in, and then commanded, a number of RAF squadrons. By the time the war in Europe came to an end, he was the Station Commander at RAF Little Snoring in Norfolk - which, at the time, was home to de Havilland Mosquitos undertaking intruder operations. Bertie opted to remain in the RAF after the war, this time being posted to 84 Squadron. However, his luck finally ran out on 26 March 1947, when the Mosquito he was ferrying to Australia crashed off its northern coast. Reported missing at the time, Danny Burt reveals the full circumstances of this tragic incident. This is the biography of one of the RAF's greatest characters of the Second World War. With his epic' over-sized moustache, Bertie Hoare was a pilot who, with the end of the fighting, had risen to the rank of Group Captain, been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, and been Mentioned in Despatches. Bertie ended the war having flown over 100 combat sorties."

About the Author
Danny Burt joined the British Army at the age of 18. As a Fire Support Team member in the Royal Artillery he served in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, completing two tours in the latter theatre. Living in County Durham, having served nearly 23 years in the military, Danny has recently completed his MSc (Hons). In his spare time, Danny collects and restores Second World War British military motorbikes and equipment.

[Chris Goss]

Adriano-Danny is Army and if you Google those sqns you will see they are no longer flying sqns in the true sense

[Danny152]

Chris,

All good thanks, and just left to be honest, after 23 years. You are totally right mate, these were not in a Mossy but in earlier aircraft.

A,

I served with the Army, but most of my career spent serving with the RAF, they are the better bunch and it sounds strange but the only time I have ever felt at home in the military!

Cheers

Danny

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Thank you both! It is always good to know about an author, his backgrounds, etc....
It was my "boy's dream" to serve the RAF....now I do preserve the deeds of the Brazilians who flew and served it in WW2...
Danny you saw a lot of action yourself...Well done...and collects WW2 motorbikes....really NICE...
Good to know of you a bit more...Congratulations and keep going. You're doing a fine job preserving the deeds of those forgotten RAF heroes.

Adriano