The Association has learned of the death of Cdr William Russell Hart AFC RN.
Notice from the Daily Telegraph 24 April 2014
HART
William Russell, Commander AFC RN Retd, ‘Bill’. Died on 11th April 2014, aged 86, at St. Catherine’s View, Winchester. Wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Private cremation. Celebration of life will be held at a later date. No flowers, donations, if wished, to Lewy Body Society and RNLI c/o Richard Steel and Partners, Alderman House, 12-14 City Road, Winchester. SO23 8SD.
Tel: 01962 862333
His daughter Joanna writes
Cdr. William (Bill) Hart was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but was educated at Bickley Hall in Kent. He entered Dartmouthin 1941 and, as a midshipman onboard the carrier Glory, witnessed the surrender of Japanese forces in New Guinea. Later he served in HM Ships Pheasant, Implacable and Roebuck as a seaman officer.
He first flew solo in a Tiger Moth on the sub-lt air course from RAF Gosport after just 6 hours and 40 minutes in 1947.
In 1949 he volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm and after flying Sea Furies in 804 Naval Air Squadron from Glory, he flew the twin-engined night-fighter Sea Hornet in 809 NAS from the carrier Eagle.
In the Korean War, between 30 April and 25 September 1951, Bill flew seventy sorties from the carrier Glory.
On July 17 1951 Bill was flying an armed reconnaissance mission over the west coast of North Korea in his Sea Fury when he strafed a troop concentration and was hit by small arms fire. As his aircraft lost fuel and power, Bill considered the risks of baling out and possible capture, and opted to fly over the sea where he made a smooth landing. He recalled that his Sea Fury slid across the surface and came gently to halt, allowing him plenty time to climb onto the wing and his relief at getting out of the hot aircraft into the cool sea. He was quickly picked up by the South Korean patrol ship Dumangang who returned him to Glory,
Over the next three days he flew four sorties, during one of these flights, Bill observed an enemy Mig 15 jet which had crashed and was lying in shallow water, he then flew combat air patrol over the site in order to guide as a small flotilla making its way clandestinely into enemy waters to recover the jet for later examination in Japan.
Bill graduated from Empire Test Pilots School Course 13 in 1954 and for the next three years was a test pilot with “A” squadron of A &AEE Boscombe Down, researching and developing fighter aircraft for the RAF. In his time there He flew over 60 different types of aircraft.
From “A” Squadron Bill was chosen as one of 6 test pilots to take part in the NATO light weight strike fighter evaluations at Centre Dessais en Vol, Bretigny, France. The evaluation team consisted of six test pilots and six engineers from four NATO countries: Bill, seconded from ‘A” Squadron for Britain; Captain Bigand from France; Captain M. Colagiovanni from Italy; and Major R.B. Hippert and Captain R.F. Titus (USAF) together with Lieutnant J.F. Lasseter (USN) from the United States.
In addition to the three Orpheus-powered prototypes (the G.91, the Taon and the Etendard VI), the team also evaluated two other French designs the Sud-Est Baroudeur and the Dassault Etendard IV, both powered by the SNECMA Atar turbojets. Although the G91 came out as the superior, Bill’s personal opinion was that “the evaluation had left for me a deep and lasting respect for the flair and innovative skills of the French aircraft industry. I had never met before, nor did I ever subsequently meet, in an aviation career spanning 50 years, an aircraft of such impeccable handling qualities, allied to outstanding performance as the Etendard V1.”
Bill was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air in 1956 and the Air Force Cross in 1957 for his contributions while with “A” Squadron.
In 1957-61 he flew Sea Hawk and Sea Vixen jet fighters form the carrier Albion and 1960-61 he commanded 890 NAS flying Sea Vixens form the carrier Hermes.
Bill graduated from the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich in 1962 and next commanded the frigate Loch Fada in the Far East.
After attending the Joint Services Staff College in 1964 he was aviation specialist from1967 to 1969 on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.
Besides his consummate flying skills, Bill proved himself so competent a staff officer that from 1967-68 he became one of the directing staff at Greenwich.
In 1968 Bill was appointed Officer Commanding, Flying Wing at Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford where he oversaw all research and development flying including for the delta wing research aircraft.
Thus Bill began his Naval flying career on the DeHavilland Tiger Moth and finished it by flying for experience the P1127 and the HP115.
Between 1974-76 Bill commanded the Interservice Hovercraft Unit and Naval hovercraft trials at Lee-on-Solent, and was responsible for the Hovercraft development trials programme having experience of pilot-in-command of 6 different types of hovercraft.
Bill claimed that as the British had invented the tank, the steam engine, London taxis and wet weather, it was only natural that they should combine the qualities of all these and invent the hovercraft!
Bill joined the Civil Aviation Authority in1978 when he was responsible for airspace policy planning, flight crew licensing and the provisions of meteorological services to UK civil aviation.
After his retirement Bill opened a successful bed and breakfast business with his wife, Mig, in Over Wallop, during this time he was test pilot for operation Ability a scheme to adapt an aircraft for a pilot who is paraplegic, and was treasurer and runner for the Broughton disabled riding group despite a lifelong mutually suspicious relationship with horses. He continued flying and successfully guided his daughter Jacky through her PPL.
Bill continued to enjoy skiing until he was 75 and sailing until 78.
Bill married his wife Margaret (Mig) Wardle in 1957 at Bishop Auckland, Durham, having courted her by borrowing, for navigation practise, aircraft to fly from where he was based in Gosport to Bishop Auckland. He would then fly twice round the house to alert her, land at Middleton St. George, and await Mig’s arrival before spending the weekend together.
Despite his considerable aviation achievements, Bill was always reticent and self-effacing, and only recorded his life history to help his then 7-year old grandson Seamus with a school history project. Bill was a wonderful and inspirational Father and Grandfather to his four daughters Carolyn, Alison, Jacky and Joanna and his 8 grandchildren.
Cdr W R Hart AFC RN, born November 6 1927, died April 11 2014
Obituary from September 2104 Fly Navy News Sheet
Bill Hart died on 11 April 2014 aged 86. He was born on 6 November 1927 in Vancouver, British Columbia, but was educated in Kent, at Bickley Hall. He entered Dartmouth in 1941 and, as a midshipman onboard Glory, witnessed the surrender of Japanese forces in New Guinea. Later he served in Pheasant, Implacable and Roebuck as a seaman officer.
In 1949 he volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm and was appointed to 804 NAS (Sea Fury FB.11). Between 30 April and 25 September 1951, during the Korean War, he flew 70 sorties from the carrier Glory. On 17 July he was on a reconnaissance mission over the west coast of North Korea when he strafed a troop concentration and was hit by small arms fire. As his aircraft lost fuel and power, Hart considered the risks of bailing out and possible capture, and opted instead to fly out to sea, where he made a smooth landing. He recalled that his aircraft came gently to halt, allowing him plenty of time to climb onto the wing. From there he was quickly picked up by the South Korean patrol ship Dumangang which returned him to Glory.
Over the next three days he flew four sorties, rocketing buildings, junks, trucks and gun pits. During these flights, he observed a crashed enemy MiG 15 lying in shallow water; he was chosen to fly over the site to guide a clandestine mission to recover the jet for later examination in Japan.
He then flew the twin-engined night-fighter Sea Hornet in 809 NAS from the carrier Eagle. He graduated from the Empire Test Pilots School Course in 1954 and for the next three years was a test pilot at Boscombe Down, researching and developing fighter aircraft for the RAF. He was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air in 1956 and the Air Force Cross in 1957.
From 1957 to 1961 he flew Sea Hawks and Sea Vixens from the carrier Albion before commanding 890 NAS, flying Sea Vixens from the carrier Hermes. He graduated from the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, in 1962 and next commanded the frigate Loch Fada in the Far East. After attending the Joint Services Staff College in 1964 he was the aviation specialist on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, from 1967 to 1969, based in Norfolk, Virginia.
From 1974 to 1976 he commanded the Interservice Hovercraft Unit at Lee on the Solent, which conducted tests on early air cushion vehicles. Hart claimed that as the British had invented the tank, the steam engine, London taxis and wet weather, it was only natural that they should combine the qualities of all these in the hovercraft.
In 1978 he joined the Civil Aviation Authority, where he was responsible for, among other things, airspace policy planning, flight crew licensing and the provision of meteorological services to British civil aviation.
Hart married Margaret Wardle in 1954, having courted her with the help of aircraft ‘borrowed’ at weekends to fly from Gosport in Hampshire to Bishop Auckland, Durham. He would fly twice around her house to announce his arrival and then land at Middleton St. George where ‘Mig’, as she was known, would collect him. She survives him with their four daughters.
From Records
1941 – 44 Entered Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Graduated as a Midshipman.
1945 – 49 Saw service in HM Ships GLORY, PHEASANT, IMPLACABLE and ROEBUCK as a Seaman Officer. Awarded watchkeeping certificate.
1949 Flying Training.
1950 – 53 Squadron Pilot:
804 Sqn (Sea Furies) – Korean War service in fighter and ground attack roles (HMS GLORY)
809 Sqn (Sea hornets) – Night fighter squadron (HMS EAGLE)
Qualified as Air Warfare Instructor (AW1 Co No 1)
1954 – 55 Graduated Empire Test Pilots School.
1955 – 57 Test pilot with ‘A’ Squadron A&AEE Boscombe Down. Research and Development flying of RAF fighter aircraft.
1957 – 59 Second in Command 804 Sqn (Sea Hawks) in HMS ALBION.
1960 – 61 Commanding Officer 890 Sqn (Sea Vixens) in HMS HERMES.
1961 – 62 Graduated Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich.
1962 – 63 Commanding Officer HMS LOCH FADA (ASW frigate) on Far East Station.
1964 Graduated Joint Services Staff College.
1965 Staff of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia USA. Duties as aviation specialist.
1967 – 69 Directing Staff of Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich as aviation specialist.
1969 – 72 Officer Commanding, Flying Wing, RAE Bedford. Test flying duties and responsibility for the organisation, administration and supervision of all R and D flying at RAE Bedford.
Elected Associate Fellow Royal Aeronautical Society.
1974 – 76 Commanding Officer Interservice Hovercraft Unit and later Naval Hovercraft Trials Unit.
From References
Whilst flying Sea Fury VW661 of 804 Squadron Glory on 17 July 1951 aircraft suffered engine damage probably due to flak damage over Korea, ditched south of Choppeki Point. Lt W R Hart rescued by Rok frigate PF61 and returned to Glory viaConstance.
London Gazette 1 January 1958 – New Year Honours List 1958.
HART, William Russell Lt Cdr QCVSA
London Gazette 12 June 1958 – Birthday Honours List 1958.
HART, William Russell Lt Cdr AFC Investiture 15-7-58