Wing Commander DFC AFC, late of Iluka, Australia, formerly of Flitton, Bedfordshire, died 20 November 2012, aged 93. Much loved father of Jack (deceased) and Gillian, husband to Monica (deceased).
Born in Edinburgh 23 December 1918, William Hoy spent his childhood first in Ceylon then at the home of his maternal grandfather (Jackson) in Symington, Lanarkshire. Educated at George Watsons College, Edinburgh, he entered RAF College Cranwell in January 1939.
Commissioned in October 1939 he first flew Ansons then Hudsons at 269SQR, taking part in operations over Norway in 1940. Promoted to Fg Off he converted to Blenheims then flew Handley Page Harrows at 420 Flight (later 93 SQR), deploying aerial mines.
Promoted to Flt Lt in late 41 he joined 604SQR flying Beaufighters, becoming a Flight Commander during the summer of ’42 and was awarded a DFC, gazette 1 October ’43, by which time he had claimed three bombers shotdown by night.
During late ’43 he joined No. 2 Nav/Rad Conversion Unit at West Malling and was attached to 85SQR before moving to HQ Fighter Command. Then in June ’44 he became Flight Commander with 25SQR (later becoming CO in April ’45) flying Mosquitoes, in which he downed a V-1.
Post war he continued to served at 12 Group (’46), 41SQR (’48), and attended the first course held at RAF Flying College, Manby (Jan ’50) before attachment to HQ Middle East Air Force, Egypt (’51).
Returning to the UK in 1953 he became Wg Cdr Flying at West Malling before joining the staff at Manby as Syndicate Leader (’55). Whilst at Manby he set a new Tokyo – London record flight in a Canberra named ‘Aries V’, and also receiving an AFC.
In June 1957 he saved the life of a Telegraph reporter participating in search and rescue exercises at sea after the man’s life preserver failed.
In late 1957 he was posted to HQ, AIRCENT as Chief, Operational Requirements, attending the Joint Services Staff College before servicing at the Air Ministry on Establishments.
He became Station Commander at Manston in 1964 before retiring from service in 1966. He subsequently worked in the air transport and construction industries before retiring to Flitton, Bedfordshire and more recently to Iluka, Australia.
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