Basil Deacon Hobbs

Basil Deacon Hobbs, DSO, OBE, DSC (20 December 1894 – 28 November 1965) was a British and Canadian aviator. He is the second most highly decorated pilot in Canada.[1]

Basil Deacon Hobbs
Photograph of a young man, his hair slicked and parted to the left, in a formal suit.
Photographed in 1920.
Born(1894-12-20)20 December 1894
Arlington, Berkshire, England
Died(1965-11-28)28 November 1965
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OccupationAviator

Early years

Hobbs moved to Canada with his family at age in 1900 at age 15.[2] In 1915, he went to take flight training at the Wright Flying School in Dayton, Ohio.

First World War service

In 1915, Hobbs Joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a flight lieutenant. During the war he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (1917), the Distinguished Service Order, and a Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross that same year.[1] While flying a Curtiss H-12 Large America flying boat, he was one of the few Canadian pilots to score a victory over a German Zeppelin L.43.[3]

Interwar flying

In 1919, Hobbs was among six pilots hired by Hubert Scott-Paine to fly commercial flights for his company Supermarine.[4] In 1920, Hobbs joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He resigned his commission in 1927 holding the rank of major. During this time, he was employed by the Canadian Air Board as a "certificate examiner".

Second World War service

At Canada's entry into the Second World War, Hobbs was recommissioned as a group captain in the RCAF. Stationed in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he was employed in anti-submarine operations and training.[1]

Death

Hobbs died on 28 November 1965 in Montreal.[5]

Awards and honours

References
  1. Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, reference family records.
  2. 1901 Census of Canada https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1901&op=&img&id=z000120344
  3. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical), Volume XIX: Home Waters - Part IX, covering the period 1 May to 31 July 1917 (Directorate of History and Heritage, Canada, Reference D.581 G72); Public Record Office Air 1/637/17/122/156, copy in National Library and Archive MG 30 D ADM, Box 12 (Reference 1000303852)
  4. Pegram, Ralph (2016). Beyond the Spitfire: The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell. Brimscombe: The History Press. p. 21.
  5. Lethbridge Herald, 30 November 1965, Page 2; Winnipeg Free Press, 30 November 1965, Page 9
  6. London Gazette 22 June 1917
  7. London Gazette 20 July 1917
  8. London Gazette 30 November 1917
  9. London Gazette 19 December 1917
  10. London Gazette 14 June 1945


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