Hugh Verity
Encyclopedia
Hugh Beresford Verity was a Royal Air Force
officer of the Second World War.
At the start of the war he joined a reconnaissance squadron, and in 1941 he joined the RAF's arm of the Special Operations Executive
. In 1942, he took command of a section of Lysanders
as No. 161 Squadron RAF
. Under this title, in 1942 and 1943 he undertook 36 night flights (possibly more than any other RAF pilot) to drop and pick up resistance workers, SOE agents and other figures at secret locations in France. Most of these flights were in Lysanders, but some were in Hudsons. Among his passengers were Jean Moulin
and François Mitterrand
. In 1978, Verity's history of all the RAF's secret landings in France, 1940-1944, was published as We landed by moonlight (Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd, 1978). A revised edition appeared in 1995 (Airdata Pubns Ltd) and this was later updated (Manchester: Crecy Publishing, 2000, ISBN 0-947554-75-0).
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...
officer of the Second World War.
At the start of the war he joined a reconnaissance squadron, and in 1941 he joined the RAF's arm of the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
. In 1942, he took command of a section of Lysanders
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
as No. 161 Squadron RAF
No. 161 Squadron RAF
No. 161 Squadron was a highly secretive unit of the Royal Air Force tasked with missions of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. Their primary role was to drop and collect secret agents and equipment into and from Nazi-occupied Europe...
. Under this title, in 1942 and 1943 he undertook 36 night flights (possibly more than any other RAF pilot) to drop and pick up resistance workers, SOE agents and other figures at secret locations in France. Most of these flights were in Lysanders, but some were in Hudsons. Among his passengers were Jean Moulin
Jean Moulin
Jean Moulin was a high-profile member of the French Resistance during World War II. He is remembered today as an emblem of the Resistance primarily due to his role in unifying the French resistance under de Gaulle and his courage and death at the hands of the Germans.-Before the war:Moulin was...
and François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
. In 1978, Verity's history of all the RAF's secret landings in France, 1940-1944, was published as We landed by moonlight (Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd, 1978). A revised edition appeared in 1995 (Airdata Pubns Ltd) and this was later updated (Manchester: Crecy Publishing, 2000, ISBN 0-947554-75-0).
Distinctions
- Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and bar - Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and bar - Officier de la Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(France) - Croix de guerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec palme (France)