Service number:

68161

Nationality:

British

Graham Hunter originally joined the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer in 1940, he was then posted operational to "B" Flight of No.218 Gold Coast Squadron as a Navigator in Wellington's, and began his operational service on 6th August 1941 and was active in raids on Boulogne, Brest, Nurnberg, Essen, Munchen Gladbach, Berlin, and Rotterdam (3rd October, 1941).
In June 1943 he started on his second tour with No.142 Squadron operating from Kairouan in North Africa, this time as bomb aimer, flying missions on Sicily and Messina. after his second tour, which was in September 1943 he had flown 73 operational missions.
For his third tour of operations he was posted to No, 271 Squadron as a part of Transport Command flying glider towing sorties and tugged a glider in during the night of the 5th to 6th June 1944 for the early morning landings of the airborne forces in Normandy. He went on to fly transport missions during the Allied advance in Nortnern Europe and flew a glider tugging mission durin Operation market Garden (see DFC citation).
He flew one more glider tugging mission during the Rhine Crossing and remained flying transport mssions untilt the end of the war and performed his last flight on 3rd August 1945, at which point he left "C" Flight of No.575 Squadron and returned to civilian life.

Promotions:
? Leading Aircraftman
17 May, 1941: Pilot Officer on Probation
17 May, 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
17 May, 1943: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 142 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1943

Recommendation:
"Flight Lieutenant Hunter has been with this Squadron since 27th May 1943, during which time he has carried out 35 operational sorties involving 193.25 hours operational flying. He has completed his second tour of operations and has carried out a total of 73 operational sorties. This officer's fine offensive spirit and determination have given his crew the highest record in the Squadron for photographs of the target area. On 19th June 1943, this officer's crew were detailed to attack Messina. Despite the intense ground defences, he refused to drop his bombs until he had definitely made certain of the correct aiming point and caused two dummy runs over the target. In July last on an attack on Pomigliano Aerodrome, Flight Lieutenant Hunter secured a very high fine photograph of the centre point of aim in the face of intense ground defences. Flight Lieutenant Hunter's fine bombing record, devotion to duty, and his excellent operational record have been an example to his comrades in the Squadron."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "FRANCE AND GERMANY" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Page 3831 | Issue 35208, 4 July 1941 | London Gazette | The Gazette
  - Page 2659 | Issue 35598, 16 June 1942 | London Gazette | The Gazette
  - Page 2682 | Supplement 36051, 8 June 1943 | London Gazette | The Gazette
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36267/supplement/5242
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