The association has learned of the death of Commander Hawkesley Murray Arthur Hayes on 24 December 2012. He lived in Lincolnshire. He is survived by his widow Ruth.
From records
Entered as a NAII in 1942 becoming a pilot. He served with 819, 836, 827, 826, and was CO 845 from June 1957 to August 1958. He retired in 1970 in the rank of Commander.
From his son Anthony Hayes
Born in Swineshead (Lincs) on 14 October 1920, the early years of his life were spent in Naples where his father was vicar to the English community. Returning to the UK he was educated at Bryanston, and developed an interest in gliding inspired by the exploits of Robert Kronfeld and visits to the Kent gliding club, which was in its infancy. Whilst still at school he started construction of his first glider, which continued during his studies at the Chelsea Aeronautical Engineering College.
At the outbreak of war he was training at Brooklands from where he was sent to work as an inspection officer on Wellington Bombers in Northampton. In 1942, aged 21, he was accepted into the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. Following basic training at HMS Daedalus and Vincent he moved to the Empire Flying School in Canada to complete his flying training. On return to the UK he subsequently joined 819 squadron and among other duties was based at RNAS Easthaven, from where he flew Swordfish, smoke laying in support of the ‘D’ Day landings. In 1944 fitted with centremetric RADAR the Squadron transferred to Knokke le Zoute for patrols off the Dutch and Belgium coasts and the battle of the Scheldt. From Feb 1945 until the end of the war he served with 836 Squadron on Macship Atlantic Convoys.
After the war he transferred to RNAS Eglinton as CO Station Flight and Maintenance Test Pilot; it was during this posting that he met and, after a 6 month romance, married Ruth.
He was serving with 827 Squadron flying Fairey Fireflies, embarked in HMS Triumph on a visit to Japan when the outbreak of the Korean War saw their return delayed and redirected so that they could support the Incheon landings.
In 1953 he converted to Rotary Wing at Gosport and served in the SAR role at RNAS Lossiemouth before returning to Gosport as instructor and senior pilot for 705 Squadron. In 1955/7 an exchange program with the US Navy saw him working on the development of anti submarine warfare with HSI in Key West Florida. On return he became CO of 845 embarked in HMS Bulwark for a range of deployments culminating in the Aden confrontation, and the squadron being awarded the Boyd Trophy. The development of ASW led to the recommissioning of 815 Squadron equipped with the Whirlwind HAS 7. This initially took him back to Eglington before 815 relocated to Portland as 737. This was his last flying appointment, as from there he went to the Admiralty Helicopter desk, later promoted Commander, and ‘Dry listed’.
Following completion of the Joint Staff Course at Latimar he was posted in 1964 to CMPS at CENTO in Ankara Turkey. There was a brief return to the UK in 1966 before his appointment to AFNORTH plans division Kolsas, Norway. In 1968 he returned permanently to England for his last serving role in the Naval Manpower Division, from where he retired in 1970. Subsequently, he joined STC as Manager for Employee Development and Graduate Recruitment.
Throughout his life he maintained his love of flying, being a founder member of the Kent and Royal Naval Gliding Clubs, and also starting gliding clubs in all the Air Stations where he served. However, the home built school project never flew – becoming a victim of wartime materials shortages. He is survived by Ruth his wife of 65 years and their four children.