Hugh Dundas
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Spencer Lisle Dundas CBE
DSO and Bar
DFC
, (1920 — 1995), nicknamed "Cocky", was a World War II
fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force
. He was Promoted to Squadron Leader
at the age of 21, to Wing Commander
at 22. In 1944, Dundas was awarded the DSO and at 24 became one of the youngest Group Captains in the RAF. Dundas was one of the most highly respected officers in the RAF. He was awarded the DFC
in 1941; DSO
in 1944 and Bar to the DSO
in 1945.
Born in Doncaster
, on 2 July 1920, Dundas, like his elder brother John, became fascinated by the idea of flying from a childhood, and he joined the Auxiliary Air Force straight after leaving Stowe School
in 1938.
Dundas was called up early in the war, serving with No. 616 Squadron, flying Spitfires. He was shot down on 22 August and wounded during the Battle of Britain
, but returned to his Squadron in September 1940. His brother John, an 11-kill ace with No. 609 Squadron, was killed in action in November 1940.
In early 1941, No. 616 was part of the RAF Tangmere
Wing, under the command of Wing Commander Douglas Bader
. Through the summer of 1941 Dundas frequently flew with Bader's section, gradually building his reputation as a competent fighter pilot and tactician. In September 1941 he was posted as an instructor to 59 OTU, but his scruffiness and unruly pet dog did not endear him to commanding officer Group Captain Stanley Vincent
, and he was transferred promptly as a Flight Commander with No. 610 Squadron.
After receiving the DFC, Dundas in December 1941 was posted as commanding officer of No. 56 Squadron RAF
, the first to be equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
. Posted to the Mediterranean in 1943, he led 324 Spitfire Wing from Malta
and through Italy and then 244 Wing in June 1944, until the end of the war. His war time score was 4 destroyed, 6 shared destroyed, 2 shared probables, and 2 and 1 shared damaged.
For some years after the war, Dundas served with the RAuxAF as CO of No. 601 Squadron.
and was the air correspondent for the Daily Express
newspaper.
He joined Rediffusion
Limited in 1961, becoming a Director in 1966, and Chairman of Thames Television
until 1987, when he was knighted. He served as High Sheriff of Surrey
for 1989.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DSO and Bar
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, (1920 — 1995), nicknamed "Cocky", was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He was Promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
at the age of 21, to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
at 22. In 1944, Dundas was awarded the DSO and at 24 became one of the youngest Group Captains in the RAF. Dundas was one of the most highly respected officers in the RAF. He was awarded the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in 1941; DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1944 and Bar to the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1945.
Born in Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, on 2 July 1920, Dundas, like his elder brother John, became fascinated by the idea of flying from a childhood, and he joined the Auxiliary Air Force straight after leaving Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
in 1938.
Dundas was called up early in the war, serving with No. 616 Squadron, flying Spitfires. He was shot down on 22 August and wounded during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, but returned to his Squadron in September 1940. His brother John, an 11-kill ace with No. 609 Squadron, was killed in action in November 1940.
In early 1941, No. 616 was part of the RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
Wing, under the command of Wing Commander Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
. Through the summer of 1941 Dundas frequently flew with Bader's section, gradually building his reputation as a competent fighter pilot and tactician. In September 1941 he was posted as an instructor to 59 OTU, but his scruffiness and unruly pet dog did not endear him to commanding officer Group Captain Stanley Vincent
Stanley Vincent
Air Vice Marshal Sir Stanley Flamank Vincent CB, DFC, AFC, DL, RAF was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior commander in the Royal Air Force...
, and he was transferred promptly as a Flight Commander with No. 610 Squadron.
After receiving the DFC, Dundas in December 1941 was posted as commanding officer of No. 56 Squadron RAF
No. 56 Squadron RAF
Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II...
, the first to be equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
. Posted to the Mediterranean in 1943, he led 324 Spitfire Wing from Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and through Italy and then 244 Wing in June 1944, until the end of the war. His war time score was 4 destroyed, 6 shared destroyed, 2 shared probables, and 2 and 1 shared damaged.
For some years after the war, Dundas served with the RAuxAF as CO of No. 601 Squadron.
and was the air correspondent for the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
newspaper.
He joined Rediffusion
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business which distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, one of the first companies to win a terrestrial ITV franchise in the UK...
Limited in 1961, becoming a Director in 1966, and Chairman of Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
until 1987, when he was knighted. He served as High Sheriff of Surrey
High Sheriff of Surrey
-List of High Sheriffs of Surrey:The list of known High Sheriffs of Surrey extends back to 1066 At various times the High Sheriff of Surrey was also High Sheriff of Sussex -1066-1228:...
for 1989.
Further reading
- Dundas, Hugh. (1990). Flying Start: A Fighter Pilot's War Years. [Hardcover]. St Martins Pr. Book Club. or
- Aces High Shores, Williams, (grub street 1990)