Post by errolmartyn on Jan 25, 2018 21:51:26 GMT 12
As some of you will know, Jerry Hooper was the first pilot to lose his life during topdressing operations in New Zealand. This was at Mangahoe, about 14 miles west of Hunterville, on 3 October 1950.
I'm seeking a scan of a photo of him for use in my 'Toll of the Air' series that's running in the AHSNZ quarterly journal - The Aero Historian. Please send me a PM or email me at errol.martyn ATT xtra.co.nz if you are able to assist.
For your info, these are the bio details I have compiled about Jerry for the series:
† William Ernest (Jerry) HOOPER, aged 44
(Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth)
Taranaki-born Hooper was one of the two pilots then flying for Rural Aviation which had been formed as recently as December 1949. After about five years of farming with his brother at Riverlea Jerry Hooper made his own way to England. From June 1930 to August 1937 he served with the RAF, flying bomber aircraft in England with 99 Squadron and in the Middle East with 70 Squadron. Following a four-month visit to New Zealand on leave in mid-1934 Hooper returned to England for a flying instructor’s course at Central Flying School before being posted to 2 Flying Training School at Digby. On leaving the RAF in August 1937 he obtained his Pilot’s ‘B’ Licence (13205) and took up instructional duties as a civilian with the RAF’s No 8 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School at Woodley.
Upon the outbreak of war Hooper was recalled to the RAF but continued with his duties at Woodley (with the now retitled 8 Elementary Flying Training School), later being promoted to squadron leader and appointed as the unit’s chief flying instructor. In April 1941 Hooper was awarded the Air Force Cross for his service with the EFTS. Promoted to acting wing commander rank in July 1941, the following month he took command of the newly-formed 26 EFTS at Theale and remained there until it was disbanded in July 1945. He then commanded 25 (Polish) EFTS at Hucknall from September until its disbandment on 1 November 1945.
With his wife and two sons he returned to New Zealand in late 1948, he having been posted to the RAF Reserve the previous March. In August 1950 he was issued with his New Zealand Pilot’s ‘B’ Licence (688) and is believed to have joined Rural Aviation about four months earlier. He had flown about 4500 hours by the time of his death.
Rural Aviation’s de Havilland Beaver ZK-AXK, the first of its type to arrive in New Zealand, soon after Hooper’s death, was named Jerry in his memory. In April 1950 his widow was presented with a gift of more than £500 that had been contributed by farmers in the area, with the request that the money be set aside for the later education of the children.
For further information about Jerry Hooper’s time with Rural Aviation see pages 46-48 of Miles King’s autobiography, The Sky My Canvas (1985), and pages 167-196 of Wendy Laurenson’s Earlybird – the story of Phil Lightband (1996).
Errol
I'm seeking a scan of a photo of him for use in my 'Toll of the Air' series that's running in the AHSNZ quarterly journal - The Aero Historian. Please send me a PM or email me at errol.martyn ATT xtra.co.nz if you are able to assist.
For your info, these are the bio details I have compiled about Jerry for the series:
† William Ernest (Jerry) HOOPER, aged 44
(Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth)
Taranaki-born Hooper was one of the two pilots then flying for Rural Aviation which had been formed as recently as December 1949. After about five years of farming with his brother at Riverlea Jerry Hooper made his own way to England. From June 1930 to August 1937 he served with the RAF, flying bomber aircraft in England with 99 Squadron and in the Middle East with 70 Squadron. Following a four-month visit to New Zealand on leave in mid-1934 Hooper returned to England for a flying instructor’s course at Central Flying School before being posted to 2 Flying Training School at Digby. On leaving the RAF in August 1937 he obtained his Pilot’s ‘B’ Licence (13205) and took up instructional duties as a civilian with the RAF’s No 8 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School at Woodley.
Upon the outbreak of war Hooper was recalled to the RAF but continued with his duties at Woodley (with the now retitled 8 Elementary Flying Training School), later being promoted to squadron leader and appointed as the unit’s chief flying instructor. In April 1941 Hooper was awarded the Air Force Cross for his service with the EFTS. Promoted to acting wing commander rank in July 1941, the following month he took command of the newly-formed 26 EFTS at Theale and remained there until it was disbanded in July 1945. He then commanded 25 (Polish) EFTS at Hucknall from September until its disbandment on 1 November 1945.
With his wife and two sons he returned to New Zealand in late 1948, he having been posted to the RAF Reserve the previous March. In August 1950 he was issued with his New Zealand Pilot’s ‘B’ Licence (688) and is believed to have joined Rural Aviation about four months earlier. He had flown about 4500 hours by the time of his death.
Rural Aviation’s de Havilland Beaver ZK-AXK, the first of its type to arrive in New Zealand, soon after Hooper’s death, was named Jerry in his memory. In April 1950 his widow was presented with a gift of more than £500 that had been contributed by farmers in the area, with the request that the money be set aside for the later education of the children.
For further information about Jerry Hooper’s time with Rural Aviation see pages 46-48 of Miles King’s autobiography, The Sky My Canvas (1985), and pages 167-196 of Wendy Laurenson’s Earlybird – the story of Phil Lightband (1996).
Errol