CaptainGeorge Henry HackwillMC (22 December 1892 – 4 July 1954) was an English World War Iflying ace credited with nine aerial victories.[1] His most notable victory was his role in shooting down a GermanGotha G.V, over Essex on the night of 28 January 1918. This was the first victory ever achieved in combat between aircraft at night.[2]
George Henry Hackwill | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1892-12-22)22 December 1892 Langtree, North Devon, England |
| Died | 4 July 1954(1954-07-04) (aged 61) Southern Rhodesia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Somerset Light Infantry No. 22 Squadron RFC No. 44 (HD) Squadron RFC No. 54 Squadron RAF |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Other work | Member of theSouthern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly |
Early life
editGeorge Henry Hackwill was born inLangtree,North Devon, England.[1] At the outbreak of the war he was an employee of theNational Provincial Bank.[3]
World War I
editAfter service in theSomerset Light Infantry at the start of the war, he transferred to theRoyal Flying Corps in mid-1915,[4] and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2292 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at Military Flying School atShoreham, Sussex, on 17 December 1915.[1]
On 21 April 1916, he was appointed aflying officer as a temporarysecond lieutenant in theSomerset Light Infantry and transferred to the General List of theRoyal Flying Corps, indicating he had completed training.[5]
Hackwill was initially assigned to No. 22 Squadron, flying theF.E.2b two-seater. He gained his first victory on 21 July.[1] Promoted to lieutenant on 31 August,[6] he gained another victory on 20 October. He then served as an instructor for a while in 1917, before he was assigned to No. 44 (Home Defence) Squadron, flying theSopwith Camel.[1] On 1 October 1917 he was appointed aflight commander with the acting rank of captain.[4][7]
His next aerial victory was a spectacular one; on 28 January 1918, Hackwill was flying a Sopwith "Comic" Camel, modified for night fighting,[8] when he andCharles C. Banks shot down aGotha G.V heavy bomber for the first victory over German night intruders attacking Britain.[9] The Gotha came down near Wickford, Essex. The bodies of the three crewmen were recovered from the burnt out wreckage of the aircraft, but onlyLeutnant Friedrick von Thomsen could be identified. All three were given a military funeral on 2 February.[10]
On 9 February 1918, Hackwill and Banks were awarded the Military Cross for this feat, the Cross being presented by KingGeorge V. Their citation, published in February 1918, read:
For conspicuous gallantry displayed when they engaged and shot down a Gotha raiding London. During the engagement, which lasted a considerable time, they were continually under fire from the enemy machine.[11]
In March 1918[1] Hackwill returned to France to serve in No. 54 Squadron, and between 25 April and 15 September 1918 he scored six more victories.[12] Not reflected in his victory list is theLVG he bombed and destroyed on 30 October 1918 while it sat on a German airfield he was raiding.[1]
List of aerial victories
edit| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 July 1916 @ 2000 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b Serial number 5214 | Roland C reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | West ofBeaulencourt | Observer/gunner:2nd Lt W. B. Parsons |
| 2 | 20 October 1916 @ 0930 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b s/n 4849 | Albatros D.I | Driven down out of control | Grévillers | Observer/gunner: Air Mechanic 1st Class Edwards |
| 3 | 25 January 1918 @ 2210 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n B2402 | Gotha G.V | Shot down and destroyed | Wickford, Essex | Shared withLt.Charles C. Banks |
| 4 | 25 April 1918 @ 0730 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n D6517 | LVG reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Southeast ofBailleul | |
| 5 | 4 July 1918 @ 1430 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n D6479 | Hannover reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Harbonnières | |
| 6 | 5 July 1918 @ 1045 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n D6479 | Pfalz D.III | Driven down out of control | Chuignolles | |
| 7 | 25 July 1918 @ 1915 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n D9573 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | South ofBazoches | |
| 8 | 7 September 1918 @ 1910 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n F2144 | Halberstadt reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Northeast ofMarquion | Shared withMalcolm Burger & four other pilots |
| 9 | 15 September 1918 @ 1840 hours | Sopwith Camel s/n F2144 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | Ferin |
Post-war career
editOn 15 April 1919, Hackwill was moved to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force.[13]
Hackwill moved toSouthern Rhodesia, and was elected to theLegislative Assembly as Member for Lomagundi district, representing theUnited Party, ina by-election on 27 August 1940. He was re-elected in the1946 and1948 general elections.
Hackwill died on 4 July 1954.
References
edit- ^abcdefgh"George Henry Hackwill".The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved22 February 2015.
- ^Bruce, J. M. (22 April 1955)."Sopwith Camel (Part 1), Historic Military Aircraft No. 10".Flight.67 (2413): 531. Retrieved22 February 2015.
- ^"Airisms from the Four Winds".Flight.X (476): 152. 7 February 1918. Retrieved22 February 2015.
- ^abcShores, et al, p. 180.
- ^"No. 29575".The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 May 1916. p. 4646.
- ^"No. 30325".The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1917. p. 10348.
- ^"No. 30351".The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 1917. p. 10988.
- ^Craig, Peter (2011)."44 Squadron: Colleagues".prcraig.com. Retrieved23 February 2015.
- ^Franks, p. 57.
- ^"Aircraft Raids".Flight.X (476): 148. 7 February 1918. Retrieved22 February 2015.
- ^"No. 30517".The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 February 1918. p. 1877.
- ^Franks, p. 61.
- ^"No. 31327".The London Gazette. 6 May 1919. p. 5656.
Bibliography
edit- Franks, Norman (2003).Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1: Volume 52 of Aircraft of the Aces. London, UK: Osprey Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84176-534-1.
- Shores, Christopher F.;Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990).Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
External links
edit- "The Gotha Air Raid on London, 28 January 1918".Bombardments and Raids. 2015. Archived fromthe original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved23 February 2015.