The Association has learned of the death of Lt (A) Hugh David Wellesley “Hoggie” Hoggard RNVR. He died in Chichester, Spring 2013
From Records
He was a pilot who served between 1941 – 1946 with 820 Squadron and took part in attacks on the Tirpitz and the raids on Palembang.
From the News Sheet
David Hoggard died on 15 May 2013 aged 84. He decided to join the Navy in December 1940. He told the recruiting officer that he had sailing experience in Chichester Harbour and thought he would be well qualified to drive Motor Torpedo boats. He was told there were no vacancies and asked if he would like to try flying instead, and so his career in the Navy began.
He was not quite 18 when he signed up but by the time his joining instructions were issued he was 18. His rank was Naval Airman 2nd Class and his pay was 2 shillings per day. He was awarded his wings on 21 November 1941. Training at Netheravon finished the day after his 19th birthday. On leaving Netheravon he was commissioned as a Midshipman and started training as a naval pilot, which included a spell at Greenwich Naval College to learn how to conduct himself in the correct manner.
In February 1942 he was sent to Naval Air Stations in Crail and Arbroath flying Swordfish and Albacore biplanes, training to drop torpedoes and depth charges from a low level over the sea, and dive bombing. Deck landing training was conducted on the very ancient aircraft carrier HMS Argus.
By July 1942 he was a fully trained naval aviator and was sent to South Africa to protect the route of troop ships passing along the coast on their way to North Africa.
On 1 January 1944 he joined 820 NAS on HMS Indefatigable and this soon became the defining moment of his wartime adventure. He was engaged in operations from the Arctic to the Pacific and formed friendships with the aircrews of the Squadron that endured until the day he died.
The first aircraft were to be Barracuda Torpedo Bombers and the Squadron comprised of 12 aircraft. These aircraft were not well liked and during dive bombing the wings became distorted. It was during this time while flying in formation that his wing was hit by another Barracuda. This became the subject of a song recorded in the Fleet Air Arm Song Book ‘Clipped-Wing Barra,’
The Squadron embarked on HMS Indefatigable in June 1944 and the ship sailed north with other aircraft carriers in order to bomb the German battleship Tirpitz. On 17 July 1944 in the company of bombers from other carriers, they set off for Kaa Fjord to strike at the Tirpitz. This was his first operation and he recalled being fascinated by the coloured lights flying between his aircraft and his adjacent winger, Pilot Ray Hawkes. Of course these ‘lights’ were tracer bullets. They qualified for the Arctic Star for this mission.
The squadron returned to the UK and in October 1944 were re-equipped with Avenger torpedo bombers, and after four weeks training were sent to the Far East and Australia in Indefatigable. On the way to Australia, a bombing raid was made on the oil refineries situated at Palembang. There was considerable anti-aircraft fire and on his bombing run a shell exploded just below the aircraft which temporarily concussed his observer, Fane Vernon, and TAG Robbie Robertson. He got the plane down safely but it was decided that the plane was damaged beyond repair and it was pushed over the side into the sea.
The total number of aircraft involved in the Palembang operation was some 240 and was the largest number of Fleet Air Arm aircraft engaged in one operation during the War. One in ten of the aircraft were lost due to enemy action, ditching or deck landing crashes.
At the beginning of March 1945, what was now the British Pacific Fleet sailed to join up with the US 5th Fleet. They formed Task Force 57 with American Admiral Nimitz in command. With other British carrier-born aircraft, 820 NAS took part in the last great operation in the Pacific, the Okinawa Campaign. They were bombing the airfields on the chain of islands stretching from Taiwan to Okinawa, to stop reinforcements being moved up to Okinawa to help with its defence. They also undertook anti-submarine patrols for the Fleet.
Conditions on the ship in the Pacific were appalling. The ventilation system had not been changed since the ship was in the Arctic. Only salt water was available for showers and a minimal amount of fresh water was allowed for washing. The flight deck was so hot when at anchor one could almost fry an egg on it. The ships were attacked by Japanese bombers, including Kamikaze suicide bombers and Indefatigable suffered one such attack on 1 April 1945, killing and wounding several people on deck.
David flew in 820 NAS with the same crew, Fane Vernon and Robbie Robertson, from February 1944 until June 1945, from the Arctic to the Pacific. He kept in touch with several members of his Squadron. During the whole time on the ship, he shared a cabin with Richard Douglas-Boyd who also became a great friend. David, Fane and Dickie Douglas-Boyd were all able to attend the inaugural Palembang Mess Guest Night at RNAS Culdrose in February 2011 and enjoyed a memorable evening with the Squadron – the last time the three veterans were to be together.
Fane Vernon writes.
‘David was a great and very reliable pilot, a great friend with a splendid sense of humour, and always the very best company. I was so hoping to see him at the Tirpitz dinner on 10 May, but at least I had the chance of speaking to him about it and to think of him on the occasion. Hats off to a great friend and pilot.’
David left the Navy in April 1946 and returned to civilian life after five years in the Fleet Air Arm.