Philip Hunter (RAF officer)

Philip Hunter
Phil Hunter DSO 3rd from left standing, with his squadron
Birth name	Philip Algernon Hunter
Born	11 April 1913 Frimley, Surrey
Died	24 August 1940 (aged 27) English Channel
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial	Missing (Unknown)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1931–1940
Rank	Squadron Leader
Service number	32081
Unit	No. 25 Squadron RAF
Commands held	No. 264 Squadron RAF
Battle of France, Battle of Britain	Second World War
Awards	Distinguished Service Order

Philip Hunter, DSO (11 April 1913 – 24 August 1940) was a Royal Air Force pilot, squadron commander and a Second World War flying ace, awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leading the destruction of thirty-eight enemy aircraft in only 2 missions^[1][2] over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches in May 1940. He was killed in action leading his squadron during the Battle of Britain.

Early life

Philip Hunter was born at Frimley, Surrey, the son of Clare and Captain Albert Hunter Royal Air Force. He was educated at Junior King's School, Canterbury from September 1922 until July 1924^[3] and then at Rosslyn House, Felixstowe, and Bishop Stortford School.^[4]

Royal Air Force

Hunter joined the Royal Air Force, and passed out from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell as a pilot officer on 11 September 1931.^[5] He completed his flying training at No. 5 Flying Training School (Sealand) and on 29 August 1932 joined No. 25 Squadron RAF based at RAF Hawkinge, flying Hawker Fury Mark Is.^[6] On 11 September 1932 he was confirmed as a pilot officer.^[7] On 28 February 1933 he was posted to No. 6 Squadron RAF, then based at Ismailia in Egypt, flying Fairey Gordon light bombers and was promoted flying officer on 11 April 1933.^[8] He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 April 1936,^[9] then returned to England and joined the staff of the Royal Air Force College Cranwellon 9 November 1936, and then was posted to the Central Flying School at RAF Upavon as a Senior Instructor. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 December 1938.^[10][11] His biography has recently been published in the "Fighter Leaders" collection volume 2.^[12] and his flying logbook and medals donated to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum.

Wartime service

The urgent need for wartime leaders resulted in Hunter being posted to command No. 254 Squadron RAF when it formed in October 1939, flying Bristol Blenheim twin engine fighters. He held command until January 1940 when his skills were more urgently required elsewhere. No. 264 Squadron RAF was re-formed at RAF Sutton Bridge in October 1939 and in March 1940 Hunter joined the squadron as commanding officer to fly the Boulton Paul Defiant^[13][14] An unusual fighter design, the single engine Defiant was armed with four .303 machine guns in a rear turret operated by an air gunner.

Phil Hunter DSO (at left) briefs his pilots on 31 May 1940.

One of his flight commanders was Nicholas Gresham Cooke and his regular air gunner was Aircraftman (from July 1940 pilot officer) Frederick Harry King, a regular service RAF air gunner from Leicester.^[15] In early operations the Defiant was often mistaken for the similar shaped Hawker Hurricane by German pilots, who dived to attack from above and behind; the blind spot for a Hurricane pilot, but directly into the fire from the gunner’s turret on a Defiant. On 12 May 1940, operating over the Dutch coast, they shot down a Junkers Ju 88 bomber^[16] and on 27 May 1940 shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and joined several other Defiants to destroy another over Dunkirk.^[17][18] On 28 May 1940 they shot down two Bf 109s.^[19] The major successes of 264 Squadron came in patrols when they went into combat at about 1515 hours and a second time at 1930 hours on 29 May 1940 and shot down thirty-eight enemy aircraft.^[20][21] During the first of these two patrols above the Dunkirk beaches Hunter and King shot down a Me 109, a twin engine aircraft (either a Ju 88 or a Me 110, and then a Ju 87 dive bomber^{[22][23][24][25][26][27]} On 31 May 1940 the team shot down another Bf 109, a Heinkel He 111 and possibly a second Heinkel.^{[28][29][30][31][15]} This brought their score to 9 victories and 1 shared plus another possibly destroyed.^{[32][33][34][35][36]}

A pair of No. 264 Sqn. Defiants. The Squadron Leader's aircraft "A" can be seen in the image at the top of the page.

After the completion of the Dunkirk evacuation the Luftwaffe had gained operational experience in fighting against the Defiant, which had therefore become an extremely vulnerable aircraft to operate in daylight against formations escorted by fighters.^[37] The months after Dunkirk were spent rebuilding the squadron, which had suffered heavy losses.

Death

In the five days from 24 to 28 August 1940 264 Squadron was almost wiped out, losing 3 aircraft and crews each day on 24, 26 and 28 August.^[38][39][40] On 24 August while in action against a formation of Ju 88s which had just bombed RAF Manston Defiant serial number N1535 (fuselage codes PS-A)^[41] was last seen chasing an enemy bomber out to sea,^[42] both of its crew were posted missing when they failed to return.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48]} Both Hunter^[49] and King^[50] were killed in action.^{[51][52][53][54][55]}

Defiant Mk.I N1585, PS-A of No. 264 Sqn., RAF Kirton in Lindsey, July 1940

Honours and awards

• 14 June 1940 – Awarded the Distinguished Service Order.^[56]

In May 1940, under the leadership of Squadron Leader Hunter, his squadron shot down thirty-eight enemy aircraft during the course of two patrols. He personally destroyed three of that number. His brilliant leadership as well as his example and courage are of the highest standard.

• 1 January 1941 – Mentioned in Despatches.^[57][58]

• 14 June 1940 – Leading Aircraftman Frederick Harry King was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal:.^[59][60][61]

This airman has acted as air gunner to Squadron Leader P. A . Hunter. He has been largely responsible for the training of the air gunners in the squadron and by his excellent example and fine shooting has largely contributed to the successes achieved. He has taken part in all sorties of the squadron and has been responsible for the destruction of nine enemy aircraft.

See also

• List of World War II flying aces

Bibliography

• Sarkar, Dilip (2010). The Few: The story of the Battle of Britain in the words of the pilots. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 1445600501.
• Listerman, Phil (2015). Fighter Leaders, volume 2. Philedition. ISBN 978-2918590668.
• Franks, Norman (1997). Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses, Volume 1. Earl Shilton: Midland Counties. ISBN 1-857800559.
• Shores, Christopher (1994). Aces High. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
• Foreman, John (2003). RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims, Part One. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 0-9538061-8-9.
• Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. London: McWhirter Brothers. ISBN 0-901928-00-3.
• Franks, Norman (1983). The Air Battle of Dunkirk. London: William Kimber. ISBN 0-7183-0349-0.
• Thomas, Andrew (2012). Defiant, Blenheim and Havoc Aces. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1849086660.
• Foreman, John (1996). The Fighter Command War Diaries. Walton-on-Thames: Air Research. ISBN 1-871187-34-6.
• Shores, Christopher (1999). Aces High, Volume 2. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
• Wynn, Kenneth (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norfolk: Gliddon. ISBN 0947893156.
• Ramsey, Winston (1989). Battle of Britain: Then and Now -V. London: After The Battle. ISBN 0-900913-46-0.

References

1. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
2. Glasgow Herald, 15 June 1940, p.7
3. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
4. Shores (1999), p.111
5. The London Gazette: no. 33755. pp. 6108–6109. 22 September 1931.
6. RAF List, July 1933
7. The London Gazette: no. 33864. pp. 5893–5894. 16 September 1932.
8. The London Gazette: no. 33947. pp. 3827–3828. 6 June 1933.
9. The London Gazette: no. 34281. pp. 2899–2900. 5 May 1936.
10. The London Gazette: no. 34576. pp. 7612–7613. 2 December 1938.
11. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
12. Listerman (2015), vol 2
13. Wynn (1999), p.207
14. Web discussion document, Philip Hunter's aerial tactics
15. "The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. P A Hunter". The Battle of Britain London Monument. 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
16. Foreman (2003), p.36
17. Franks (1983), p.55-56
18. Foreman (2003), p.69-70
19. Franks (1983), p.82
20. Listerman (2015), vol 2
21. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
22. Franks (1983), p.100
23. Foreman (2003), p.73-74
24. Shores (1994), p.346
25. Franks (1983), p.92-4
26. Foreman (1996), p.79
27. Foreman (2003), p.73-74
28. Foreman (2003), p.76
29. Shores (1994), p.346
30. Franks (1983), p.127-128
31. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
32. Shores (1994), p.346
33. Thomas (2012), p.25
34. List of Ace Pilots
35. [Network54 – British Fighter Aces
36. Detailed record of victories
37. Wings of War Forum – Hunter and the Defiants
38. Franks (1997), p.62-66
39. Mason (1969), p.298-310
40. Sarkar (2010), 24August, 26August, 28 August
41. Photo of N1535
42. Google books – Sarkar "The Few" – loss of Philip Hunter
43. Franks (1997), p.62
44. Wynn (1999), p.207
45. Mason (1969), p.298
46. Ramsey (1989), p.376
47. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
48. Shores (2000), p.190
49. Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Philip Hunter DSO
50. Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Fred King DFM
51. Shores (1994), p.190
52. Franks (1983), p.217
53. 264 Squadron Patrol over Dunkirk. Friday 31 May 1940
54. Franks (1983), p.129
55. Ramsey (1989), p.376
56. The London Gazette: no. 34873. pp. 3621–3622. 14 June 1940.
57. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35029. pp. 34–35. 31 December 1940.
58. The Kings School, Canterbury, P A Hunter
59. The London Gazette: no. 34873. pp. 3623–3624. 14 June 1940.
60. Wynn (1999), p.229
61. Mason (1969), p.511