Memorial to a great RAF 'character'

Martin Bull · #1 (**permalink**) April 24th, 2006, 04:10 PM

The tiny and ancient Church of St Andrew sits in a field just a few yards from the runway of long-abandoned RAF Little Snoring, home of 23 and 515 Mosquito Intruder Squadrons.

Bertie Rex O'Brien 'Sammy' Hoare DSO*DFC* was one of the truly great RAF 'characters' of WWII ( complete with glass eye and 6" handlebar moustache ) and is acknowledged as one of the finest Mosquito Intruder pilots.

He was lost over the Pacific in a post-war accident flying - appropriately - a Mosquito.

Tucked in a corner of the churchyard is this gravestone which is also the only memorial to 'Sammy' in the UK.

I was glad to find it.

Erich · #2 (**permalink**) April 24th, 2006, 06:30 PM

Martin can you give a bit of bio on this intruder pilot ??

thanks

be back later gents

eHangar · #3 (**permalink**) April 24th, 2006, 07:09 PM

Yes, I would be interested to read more about this pilot too, as I'm in Singapore and just noticed that he is buried here at the Kranji War Cemetery?

Martin Bull · #4 (**permalink**) April 24th, 2006, 07:59 PM

Hello eHangar and a very warm welcome here ! [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

I'm not sure if 'Sammy' Hoare is buried at Kranji, or just commemorated as 'missing'.

It's a real shame that no biography of this man exists. He lost an eye early in his flying career when a duck flew through his windscreen. After this, he had one brown eye, one blue - no-one seemed to know which was the glass one.... He was red-haired, with the famous handlebar moustache - he reckoned that if both ends couldn't be seen from behind, it wasn't worth the name 'handlebar'.

He was an early exponent of intruding, flying Blenheims and then Havocs over the Low Countries. In July 1942, 23 Squadron converted to Mossie NFIIs and his successses mounted quickly. When 23 went to Malta in early 1943, 'Sammy' set up a specialized Intruder training school at Cranfield before posting to 605 Squadron as CO, again on Mossies.

Then came his period as Station CO at Little Snoring, continuing to fly and score victories which are recorded on the scoreboards preserved in St Andrews Church. His briefings to crews are fondly remembered ; one well-known and typical example finished :

'Gentlemen, there will be flak ; almost certainly quite heavy flak. If you cannot go over, you will go under. If you cannot go under - you will go through !'.

There are various accounts of his demise over the Pacific post-war.

I'd like to know more about him.

[img]graemlins/poppy.gif[/img]

eHangar · #5 (**permalink**) April 25th, 2006, 06:04 AM

Thank you, Martin

You seem to know quite a bit about him already. He does sound like a most colourful character, and I would love to learn more about him too. As for the moustache, I would love to also see a photo of him if available!

Martin Bull · #6 (**permalink**) April 25th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Here's some more info about 'Sammy' Hoare : -

He entered the RAF on a short-service commission in 1936, having been educated at Harrow and Wye Agricultural College. His official night-intruder tally was 9 destroyed, 4 probable, 8 damaged and 1 probable on ground - although his actual score is believed to be higher.

He remained in the RAF post-war, joining 84 Squadron. On 26th March 1947 he was reported missing whilst ferrying a Mosquito to Australia. Mystery surrounds this incident ; Christopher Shores in 'Aces High' states that the Mosquito crash-landed on a remote island, the crew perishing of thirst before they could be found - whereas other sources state that the aircraft crashed into the sea.

Here's 'Sammy' as I imagine he might like to be remembered - the centre of attention, holding the silver model of a Mosquito which had just been presented to celebrate 605 Squadron's '100th Hun' at a party at the Dorchester Hotel, London in April 1944.

No. 100 was scored - of course - by 'Sammy' Hoare.

[img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

The_Historian · #7 (**permalink**) April 25th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Great story, Martin. [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

I sense an impending 'Biography by M. Bull'...

...and I'd like to pre-order mine now, please! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

TA152 · #8 (**permalink**) April 25th, 2006, 11:25 PM

Thanks for the research Martin [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

What strikes me about the picture is how old they all look to be combat pilots, except for the man in the rear of the photo. I guess flying night missions puts some wear and tear on the body.

Martin Bull · #9 (**permalink**) February 4th, 2008, 07:15 AM

The fellow on the left, and the chaps in the background, are most likely combat pilots. The two officers on the right are certainly 'Top Brass' - HQ types.

RAF pilots did tend to look older in the 1940s due to the hairstyles and the moustaches. And operational strain certainly aged people.

( It doesn't usually take me this long to answer - I was searching for something else and found this old thread !

)