Rank:

Pilot I

Unit:

No. 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1948

Awarded for:

Operation Vittles

"Pilot I Hobbs joined Transport Command in July 1946 when he was posted to No.216 Squadron in Egypt and was engaged in flying Dakota aircraft of the regular Middle East scheduled services. He returned to the United Kingdom in April 1948 and was posted to No.27 Squadron. He has been attached to the British Air Forces of Occupation and engaged on the air lift to Berlin since the beginning of July, operating first from Wunsdorf, then from Fassberg, and now from Lubeck. He has completed 102 sorties to Gatow in all types of weather, both by day and night. He has carried out his duties in a conscientious and efficuent manner, and has always been one of the first to volunteer for extra duties. He holds Transport Command’s “B” category as a Captain of aircraft.

He has shown an intense keenness to undertake extra sorties whenever there has been a shortage of crews, many times despite his own physical weariness. During very exhausting periods of bad weather he has shown a complete disregard for his own comfort and welfare. The example shown by him in his spirit and performance has been a very potent factor in sustaining the morale and keenness of the Dakota crews which throughout the operation have been most praiseworthy. His skill and determination in very difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions have been of a very high order. This Non-Commissioned Officer is one is one of that select band who have set the pace for the other aircrews from the beginning of the operation and given them a worthy lead."