Mr Geoffrey Herbert Hooper

AUSTRALIA

WW1

Captain Geoffrey Herbert Hooper - Shoulder Lapel - Military Cross - Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain Geoffrey Herbert Hooper - Shoulder Lapel - Military Cross - Distinguished Flying Cross

Born - 15 April 1891 - Sydney, Australia

Died - Post 13 June 1927

Allegiance - Australia

Service/branch - Engineers; aviation

Rank - Captain

Unit - Royal Engineers, No. 11 Squadron RFC, No. 20 Squadron RAF <>Awards - Military Cross, and Distinguished Flying Cross Captain Geoffrey Herbert Hooper was an Australian World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories, all against the deadly Fokker D.VII.

Contents 1 World War I 2 Post World War I 3 Honors and awards 4 Sources of information 5 References

World War I Hooper enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 1 August 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1916. He joined 11 Squadron as pilot of a Bristol F.2 Fighter two-seater pilot on 12 April 1917, three days before his 26th birthday.

[1] He scored his first victory on 26 June 1917.

[2] On 1 July 1917, Hooper was promoted to Lieutenant.

[3] Only eight days later, on 9 July 1917, he was raised to Flight Commander and Temporary Captain.

[4] He scored twice more while with 11 Squadron, the last being on 11 September 1917, with Leslie Powell in the gunner's pit. Hooper then collected a Military Cross and transferred to 38 Squadron on training duty for a rest.

[5] He returned to combat with 20 Squadron, and took up his winning ways there on 24 September 1918. With Harold Leslie Edwards manning the guns, he scored triple wins on the 25 and 29 September, to become a double ace. On 10 November, he racked up his last win. His final tally was six Fokker D.VII fighters destroyed and five driven down out of control.

[6] Post World War I

On 8 May 1919, Hooper relinquished his commission upon completion of service but retained the rank of Lieutenant.

[7] On 24 May, he was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force

[8] He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 June.

[9] On 12 December 1919, he gave up his commission in the Territorial Force Kent Fortress Engineers for a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force.

[10] On 13 June 1923, he resigned his commission as a Flight Lieutenant.

[11] On 13 June 1927, Hooper completed his service in the reserves.[12]

Honors and awards

Military Cross (MC)

2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Geoffrey Herbert Hooper, R.E., attd. R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When leading a patrol of four machines, he attacked ten enemy aircraft; during the engagement five of them were destroyed, two by himself. He had previously led a very successful night bombing attack on an aerodrome, in unfavourable weather, dropping bombs from a very low altitude, and doing a great amount of damage. He has invariably displayed great gallantry and skill when engaged in aerial combats

[13] Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) awarded 3 June 1919.[14]

Sources of information

1. Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. p. 26.

2. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/hooper.php Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

3. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 September 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30912/supplements/11240 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

4. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 20 July 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30193/supplements/7406 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

5. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/hooper.php Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

6. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/hooper.php Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

7. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 June 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31399/supplements/7522 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

8. (The London Gazette, 11 July 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32833/pages/4143 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

9. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

10. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 7 January 1921) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30287/supplements/9573 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

11. (The London Gazette, 12 June 1923) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32833/pages/4143 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

12. (The London Gazette, 28 June 1927) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33289/pages/4143 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

13. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 September 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30287/supplements/9573 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

14. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031 Retrieved on 17 March 2010.

References

Categories: 1891 births

Australian World War I flying aces

Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

Recipients of the Military Cross

Royal Engineers soldiers

Royal Flying Corps soldiers

1927 deaths - (Ref- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_H._Hooper).

WW2 Service Record Name HOOPER, GEOFFREY HERBERT Service Royal Australian Air Force Service Number 260878 Date of Birth 15 Apr 1891 Place of Birth Unknown Date of Enlistment Unknown Locality on Enlistment Unknown Place of Enlistment Unknown Next of Kin HOOPER, NELL Date of Discharge 16 Dec 1942 Rank Squadron Leader Posting at Discharge 1 EMBARKATION DEPOT WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No

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