Biographical data

Biographical Data
Hobbs, Basil Deacon If you have images associated with this Person, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Title	Group Captain (RCAF)
Official Number

Birth	20/12/1894	Death	00/11/1965
Place	Arlington	Place	(nk)
Area	Berks	Area	(nk)
Country	UK	Country	(nk)

Titles
Honours	DSO. DSC & Bar. OBE.
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
He came to Canada in 1900 with his family, who were farmers at Sault ste. Marie ON where he attended high school. At the time of his recruitment his home was in Sault Ste. Marie (where he worked as an electrician). He was awarded ACA Certificate #365 at the Wright Flying School at Dayton, Ohio 08/12/1915. In 1924, he was the sole pilot for the first long range air survey undertaken in Canada, over the northern region of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The official history of these flights quotes it as "certainly the greatest ever flight undertaken for aerial survey, and when considered in the light of practical results, it is one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of flying". Hobbs was named posthumously a Member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1987 with the following citation: "This man truly reached for the stars and through his flying achievements and ability through peace and war brought honour to the aviation fraternity of Canada."

Biography

He came to Canada in 1900 with his family, who were farmers at Sault ste. Marie ON where he attended high school. At the time of his recruitment his home was in Sault Ste. Marie (where he worked as an electrician). He was awarded ACA Certificate #365 at the Wright Flying School at Dayton, Ohio 08/12/1915. In 1924, he was the sole pilot for the first long range air survey undertaken in Canada, over the northern region of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The official history of these flights quotes it as "certainly the greatest ever flight undertaken for aerial survey, and when considered in the light of practical results, it is one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of flying". Hobbs was named posthumously a Member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1987 with the following citation: "This man truly reached for the stars and through his flying achievements and ability through peace and war brought honour to the aviation fraternity of Canada."

Military Service
He was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 27/12/1915). He was appointed as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 27/12/1915), He served in RNAS Felixstowe 1916. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 31/06/1917). He served in RNAS Felixstowe. He destroyed the Zepplin L-43 off Vlieland in 1917 and sank the minelaying submarine UC-6 on 26/09/1917.) He joined the Canadian Air Force in 1920 and was shortly thereafter appointed Director of Air Operations in Ottawa. In 1927 he resigned to establish an importing business in Montreal. He was recommissioned into the RCAF with the rank of Group Captain at the beginning of World War II, as a commanding officer at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he was employed in anti-submarine warfare training and operations. He served in the Second World War as a Group Captain RCAF.

Military Service

He was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 27/12/1915). He was appointed as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 27/12/1915), He served in RNAS Felixstowe 1916. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 31/06/1917). He served in RNAS Felixstowe. He destroyed the Zepplin L-43 off Vlieland in 1917 and sank the minelaying submarine UC-6 on 26/09/1917.) He joined the Canadian Air Force in 1920 and was shortly thereafter appointed Director of Air Operations in Ottawa. In 1927 he resigned to establish an importing business in Montreal. He was recommissioned into the RCAF with the rank of Group Captain at the beginning of World War II, as a commanding officer at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he was employed in anti-submarine warfare training and operations. He served in the Second World War as a Group Captain RCAF.

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

Anecdotes

References
Hiorth, D. (1995); Grant, Scottie & Bob Murray (nd); MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/gong-4g-h.html; http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/hobbs_b/hobbs_b.html
Last update
2013-06-03 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Hobbs, Basil Deacon