John Hamar Hill
Encyclopedia
Group Captain John Hamar “Johnnie” Hill CBE
, was born on December 28 1912 and educated at Dover College
where he had been a College Prefect and a good games player.
He took a commission in the RAF in 1932 and by 1940 he had taken command of 504 Squadron
– a Hurricane
squadron. He was shot down over France and wounded in a famous incident where he was mistaken for a spy. After recovering from these injuries he was given command of 222 Squadron
whose Spitfires suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Britain
.
Later in the war Hill was appointed chief flying instructor at No 57 Operational Training Unit and then Station Commander at Exeter and RAF Church Stanton. In 1942 he was mentioned in dispatches and posted to New Zealand as an Air Staff Officer. The end of the war saw Hill at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force where he was promoted Group Captain. He was appointed CBE in 1946.
After the war Johnnie Hill was seconded to the French Air Ministry in 1950 and ended his career as Director of Command and Staff Training and then Senior Personnel Staff Officer. He retired in 1960 and became the Export Officer of the Society of British Aerospace Companies and a VIP co-ordinator at the Farnborough Air Show. He died in 1998.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, was born on December 28 1912 and educated at Dover College
Dover College
Dover College is a co-educational independent school in Dover in southeast England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders....
where he had been a College Prefect and a good games player.
He took a commission in the RAF in 1932 and by 1940 he had taken command of 504 Squadron
No. 504 Squadron RAF
No. 504 Squadron was one of the Special Reserve Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force. It was integrated into the AAF proper in 1936. Based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, 504 Squadron used a variety of light bombers before being re-tasked to fighters with the Hawker Hurricane in 1939. It subsequently...
– a Hurricane
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...
squadron. He was shot down over France and wounded in a famous incident where he was mistaken for a spy. After recovering from these injuries he was given command of 222 Squadron
No. 222 Squadron RAF
-In World War I:The Squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from A squadron of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. Later, 6 April 1918 former Z Squadron of No. 2 Wing, RNAS was added to the strength. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos...
whose Spitfires suffered heavy losses in 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...
.
Later in the war Hill was appointed chief flying instructor at No 57 Operational Training Unit and then Station Commander at Exeter and RAF Church Stanton. In 1942 he was mentioned in dispatches and posted to New Zealand as an Air Staff Officer. The end of the war saw Hill at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force where he was promoted Group Captain. He was appointed CBE in 1946.
After the war Johnnie Hill was seconded to the French Air Ministry in 1950 and ended his career as Director of Command and Staff Training and then Senior Personnel Staff Officer. He retired in 1960 and became the Export Officer of the Society of British Aerospace Companies and a VIP co-ordinator at the Farnborough Air Show. He died in 1998.