Sergeant Hubert Cecil Hunt (18 September 1898 – 11 January 1981) was a British World War I

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

credited with eight aerial victories.

Military service

Having first served in the

Bedfordshire Regiment The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of a Line infantry, line infantry regiment of the British Army that was originally formed in 1688. After centuries of service in many conflicts and wars, including both the World War ...

, by 1918 Hunt was serving as an observer/gunner in the Royal Air Force's No. 22 Squadron with the rank of Sergeant-Mechanic, flying in the Bristol F.2b. He gained his first victory on 28 May 1918, driving down a two-seater over Merville–

La Bassée La Bassée () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Population Heraldry Personalities La Bassée was the birthplace of the painter and draftsman Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761–1845). Another native was Ignace Franç ...

, while being piloted by Lieutenant Chester William McKinley Thompson. On 8 August he destroyed two

Fokker D.VII The Fokker D.VII is a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the '' Fokker-Flugzeugwerke''. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the D.VII ...

over

Brebières Brebières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. Geography This farming and light industrial town is located 12 miles (19 km) east of Arras on the N50 road, at the junction with the ...

with pilot Lieutenant Thomas Henry Newsome. His remaining victories were while flying with Lieutenant Cyril Edward Hurst, accounting for a two-seater over

Fresnoy Fresnoy () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Geography A tiny village situated some 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Montreuil-sur-Mer on the D109 road. Population Places of interest * C ...

on 16 August, three fighters in a single action between Maricourt and Péronne on the 25th, and driving down a

south of Vitry on the 31st. Hunt was awarded the

Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and other British Armed Forces, and formerly to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "exceptional val ...

, which was gazetted on 1 November 1918. His citation read: :P/6434 Serjt.-Mech. Hubert Cecil Hunt (late Bedf. R). ::"A keen and skilful Observer, on whose courage and resource Pilots place absolute reliance. He has personally shot down and destroyed five enemy machines, two of which he accounted for during one patrol."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Hubert C. 1898 births 1981 deaths People from Manor Park, London Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment soldiers Royal Flying Corps soldiers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal Military personnel from the London Borough of Newham British Army personnel of World War I Royal Air Force airmen