Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Henry Algenon Vickers
b:
25 Oct 1909
r: 29 Apr 1962
d: 28 Jun 1993
CB – 9 Jun 1955, DFC
– 25 Oct 1940, LoM (O) - 15 Mar 1946.
Plt
Off: 20 Dec 1930, Fg Off: 20 Jun 1932, Flt Lt:
1 Apr 1936, Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1938,
Act Wg Cdr: xx Nov 1940, (T) Wg Cdr:
1 Mar 1941,
Act Gp Capt: 5 Sep 1942?, Wg Cdr
(WS): 5 Mar 1943, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1944, Wg Cdr:
1 Oct 1946, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1947,
Act A/Cdre: xx xxx 1952?, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1953,
Act AVM: 22 Aug 1955, AVM: 1
Jul 1956.
10 Jan 1929:
Flight Cadet, 'B' Sqn, RAF College.
20 Dec 1930: Appointed to a Permanent Commission
20
Dec 1930:
Pilot, No 54 Sqn.
xx Mar 1932: Attended RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
1
May 1932:
Instructor, RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
xx Nov 1932: Pilot, No 404 (Fleet Fighter) Flight
2
May 1933:
Pilot, No 800 Sqn FAA.
23 Jul - 20 Oct 1934: Attended Flying Instructor's Course, Central Flying School (graded B)
22
Oct 1934:
QFI, No 1 FTS, RAF Leuchars.
xx
Aug 1936:
QFI, Central Flying School.
3
Jan 1938:
Pilot, Long Range Development Unit.
20 Feb 1939: Supernumerary, No 6 (Bomber) Group
3 Apr 1939: Supernumerary, HQ No 50 (Training) Group.
1 May 1939: Chief Flying Instructor, No 15 Flying Training School (RAF Lossiemouth/MiddleWallop)
xx xxx xxxx: Personnel Staff Officer, Air Ministry.
6 Jun 1940: Attended Refresher Flying Course, No 6 OTU, RAF Sutton Bridge.
15 Jun 1940: Supernumerary, PDC, Uxbridge
25
Jun 1940: Supernumerary, No 501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn.
29
Jun 1940: Officer Commanding, No 501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn.
11 Nov 1940: CFI, No 58 OTU.
25 Nov 1940: CFI, No 54 OTU.
29 Dec 1940: CFI, No 58 OTU, wef 9 Dec 1940
28 Apr 1941: Air Ministry Unit for posting overseas
xx Jun 1941: Liaison Officer, USA.
xx
Aug 1941: Director of British Flying Training, RAF Delegation, Washington.
xx
xxx 1944: Assistant Commandant/Chief Instructor, Empire Central Flying School.
xx
xxx 1945: Officer Commanding, No 19 SFTS. (Cranwell)
9
Apr 1946: Attended Course No 16, RAF Staff College (Overseas), Haifa.
xx
xxx 1947: Air Staff, Air Ministry.
30
Nov 1948:
Senior Personnel Staff Officer, HQ Middle East Air Force.
xx
xxx 1951: Officer Commanding, RAF Wattisham.
xx
xxx 1952: AOC, Northern Sector, Fighter Command.
2
Apr 1954: AOC, No 81 Group.
22
Aug 1955: AOC, No 83 Group.
30
Sep 1958: SASO, HQ Flying Training Command.
xx
xxx 1960: Head of RAF Mission to Ghana.
xx
xxx 1962: Head of Joint Services Mission to Ghana.
He represented the RAF College at Athletics, Soccer,
Hockey, Squash, Cricket, attained the rank of Under Officer and was awarded the
Sword of Honour on graduating. In
November 1938, he was the pilot of Wellesley No 2 during the successful attempt
on the world long distance record from Ismailia to Darwin.
Unfortunately, his aircraft suffered from a fuel shortage and he was
forced to make a precautionary landing at Koepang, as a result of which he was
the only pilot of the four who did not receive the AFC.
He assumed command of the remnants of 501 squadron at
Croydon, following their return from the fighting in France, leading them
throughout the Battle of Britain. During
the battle he made one forced landing on 27 August with a punctured glycol tank
and was forced to bale out at least twice, on 15 and 18 September.
His final tally as a fighter pilots stood at three confirmed and two shared, two
probables and one damaged. Shortly before being posted to No 58 OTU, he was awarded the DFC for operations
with 501.
Whilst in America, he worked on the Arnold Scheme.
It
was announced in The Times in 1955 that he was to become AOC, British Forces
Aden, in September 1955, but this seems to have been changed to No 83
Group. From 1964 to 1968, he was Regional Director for Civil Defence in the
Midlands.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“Squadron Leader Henry Algernon Vickers HOGAN (26181).
This officer has led his squadron with distinction.
Sixty-nine hostile aircraft have been destroyed and many others damaged.
Three of this number were destroyed by Squadron Leader Hogan
personally.”
(London Gazette – 25 October 1940)
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G
S Hodson