Hubert Adair
Encyclopedia
Sergeant
Hubert Hastings "Paddy" Adair (1917–1940) was a World War II Royal Air Force
pilot during the Battle of Britain
.
Adair was born in Norwich
in 1917, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Adair, and was educated at the City of Norwich School
.
in 1936. After completing his training he joined No. 88 Squadron RAF
and flew the Fairey Battle aircraft
during the Battle of France
. Adair volunteered for Fighter Command. He converted to hurricanes
in August 1940 and joined No. 151 Squadron RAF
at RAF Digby
on 4 September 1940 and then was posted to No. 213 Squadron RAF
at RAF Tangmere
on 16 September 1940.
On 6 November 1940 Adair was killed in action over Southampton flying Hurricane AK-D (V7602). It is believed that he was shot down by Major Helmut Wick
of JG 2. Adair was posted as "missing in action", and was presumed to have came down in the English Channel.
Later research found that Hurricane V7602 crashed at Pigeon House Farm, Widley, Hampshire and was Adair's. When it was excavated on 6 October 1979 the pilot's remains were found and later sent to Porchester Crematorium for disposal.
A memorial plaque, situation on top of Portsdown Hill
in Hampshire
close to the believed site of Adair's crash. The plaque reads:
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Hubert Hastings "Paddy" Adair (1917–1940) was a World War II Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Adair was born in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
in 1917, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Adair, and was educated at the City of Norwich School
City of Norwich School
The Eaton School, more commonly known as CNS, is a secondary comprehensive school situated in Norwich, Norfolk on Eaton Road.-Admissions:It has over 1500 pupils and currently employs over 190 staff...
.
Royal Air Force
Adair joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1936. After completing his training he joined No. 88 Squadron RAF
No. 88 Squadron RAF
No 88 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force formed at Gosport, Hampshire in July 1917.-Involvement in World War I:The squadron was moved to France in April 1918 where it undertook fighter-reconnaissance duties...
and flew the Fairey Battle aircraft
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. Adair volunteered for Fighter Command. He converted to hurricanes
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
in August 1940 and joined No. 151 Squadron RAF
No. 151 Squadron RAF
-World War I:No. 151 squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft.During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.Sixteen enemy aircraft...
at RAF Digby
RAF Digby
RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located...
on 4 September 1940 and then was posted to No. 213 Squadron RAF
No. 213 Squadron RAF
No. 213 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. The squadron was formed on 1 April 1918 from No. 13 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service...
at RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
on 16 September 1940.
On 6 November 1940 Adair was killed in action over Southampton flying Hurricane AK-D (V7602). It is believed that he was shot down by Major Helmut Wick
Helmut Wick
Major Helmut Paul Emil Wick was a German Luftwaffe ace and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
of JG 2. Adair was posted as "missing in action", and was presumed to have came down in the English Channel.
Later research found that Hurricane V7602 crashed at Pigeon House Farm, Widley, Hampshire and was Adair's. When it was excavated on 6 October 1979 the pilot's remains were found and later sent to Porchester Crematorium for disposal.
Memorials
Adair is named on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, Surrey, on panel 11.A memorial plaque, situation on top of Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill is a long chalk hill in Hampshire, England, offering good views over Portsmouth, The Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. The hill is on the mainland, just to the north of Ports Creek, which separates the mainland from Portsea Island, on which lies the...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
close to the believed site of Adair's crash. The plaque reads:
- SGT. H.H. ADAIR IN HURRICANE AK-D-V7602 CRASHED NEAR HERE ON THE 6/11/1940 WHILST DEFENDING PORTSMOUTH. HE FOUGHT AGAINST SUPERIOR ODDS AND LOST HIS YOUNG LIFE SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS COULD ENJOY THEIRS.