Philip Hunter (RAF officer)

Philip Hunter, DSO (11 April 1913 – 24 August 1940) was a Royal Air Force pilot, squadron commander and a Second World War flying ace, awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leading the destruction of thirty-eight enemy aircraft in only 2 missions over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches in May 1940. He was killed in action leading his squadron during the Battle of Britain.

Early life
Philip Hunter was born at Frimley, Surrey, the son of Clare and Captain Albert Hunter Royal Air Force. He was educated at Junior King's School, Canterbury from September 1922 until July 1924 and then at Rosslyn House, Felixstowe, and Bishop Stortford School.

Royal Air Force
Hunter joined the Royal Air Force, and passed out from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell as a pilot officer on 11 September 1931. He completed his flying training at No. 5 Flying Training School (Sealand) and on 29 August 1932 joined No. 25 Squadron RAF based at RAF Hawkinge, flying Hawker Fury Mark Is. On 11 September 1932 he was confirmed as a pilot officer. On 28 February 1933 he was posted to No. 6 Squadron RAF, then based at Ismailia in Egypt, flying Fairey Gordon light bombers and was promoted flying officer on 11 April 1933. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 11 April 1936, then returned to England and joined the staff of the Royal Air Force College Cranwellon 9 November 1936, and then was posted to the Central Flying School at RAF Upavon as a Senior Instructor. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 December 1938. His biography has recently been published in the "Fighter Leaders" collection volume 2. and his flying logbook and medals donated to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum.

Wartime service
The urgent need for wartime leaders resulted in Hunter being posted to command No. 254 Squadron RAF when it formed in October 1939, flying Bristol Blenheim twin engine fighters. He held command until January 1940 when his skills were more urgently required elsewhere. No. 264 Squadron RAF was re-formed at RAF Sutton Bridge in October 1939 and in March 1940 Hunter joined the squadron as commanding officer to fly the Boulton Paul Defiant  An unusual fighter design, the single engine Defiant was armed with four .303 machine guns in a rear turret operated by an air gunner. One of his flight commanders was Nicholas Gresham Cooke and his regular air gunner was Aircraftman (from July 1940 pilot officer) Frederick Harry King, a regular service RAF air gunner from Leicester. In early operations the Defiant was often mistaken for the similar shaped Hawker Hurricane by German pilots, who dived to attack from above and behind; the blind spot for a Hurricane pilot, but directly into the fire from the gunner’s turret on a Defiant. On 12 May 1940, operating over the Dutch coast, they shot down a Junkers Ju 88 bomber and on 27 May 1940 shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and joined several other Defiants to destroy another over Dunkirk. On 28 May 1940 they shot down two Bf 109s. The major successes of 264 Squadron came in patrols when they went into combat at about 1515 hours and a second time at 1930 hours on 29 May 1940 and shot down thirty-eight enemy aircraft. During the first of these two patrols above the Dunkirk beaches Hunter and King shot down a Me 109, a twin engine aircraft (either a Ju 88 or a Me 110, and then a Ju 87 dive bomber       On 31 May 1940 the team shot down another Bf 109, a Heinkel He 111 and possibly a second Heinkel.    This brought their score to 9 victories and 1 shared plus another possibly destroyed.



After the completion of the Dunkirk evacuation the Luftwaffe had gained operational experience in fighting against the Defiant, which had therefore become an extremely vulnerable aircraft to operate in daylight against formations escorted by fighters. The months after Dunkirk were spent rebuilding the squadron, which had suffered heavy losses.

Death
In the five days from 24 to 28 August 1940 264 Squadron was almost wiped out, losing 3 aircraft and crews each day on 24, 26 and 28 August. On 24 August while in action against a formation of Ju 88s which had just bombed RAF Manston Defiant serial number N1535 (fuselage codes PS-A) was last seen chasing an enemy bomber out to sea, both of its crew were posted missing when they failed to return. Both Hunter and King  were killed in action.



Honours and awards

 * 14 June 1940 – Awarded the Distinguished Service Order.


 * 1 January 1941 – Mentioned in Despatches.


 * 14 June 1940 – Leading Aircraftman Frederick Harry King was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal:.