Percy Hobson (RAF officer) facts for kids

Captain Percy Kyme Hobson MC (born November 20, 1893 – death date unknown) was a brave British pilot during World War I. He was known as a flying ace, which means he shot down five or more enemy aircraft. Percy Hobson was officially credited with seven aerial victories.

Meet Percy Kyme Hobson

Early Life and Adventures

Percy Hobson was born on his parents' farm in a place called Fleet Hargate, near Holbeach in Lincolnshire, England. He went to local schools and then to a boarding school. Later, he attended Framlingham College until 1909.

After school, Percy tried an apprenticeship as an electrician. When he was 18, his father bought him a ticket to Canada. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with only a small amount of money. In Canada, he worked on a farm and then as a painter. He moved to Buffalo, New York, where he cleaned fur coats in a store. He also worked as a deckhand on a lake steamer.

Percy continued his adventures, traveling by freight train to Winnipeg to work on another farm. He saved enough money to go to Vancouver. There, he worked as a carpenter building houses and as a handyman at a cement factory. When World War I began in August 1914, Percy returned to England.

Flying High in World War I

Back in England, Percy Hobson joined the Honourable Artillery Company as a driver. But he soon wanted to fly! On May 10, 1917, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to become a pilot.

After some ground training, he became a temporary second lieutenant. He went to Salisbury Plain for flying lessons. Percy found the training tough, but he learned to fly. On October 22, he was sent to France to join No. 84 Squadron RAF. His commanding officer was Sholto Douglas.

Percy flew an S.E.5a single-seat fighter plane. He got his first aerial victory on February 13, 1918, shooting down an enemy plane. A few days later, he forced another enemy plane down. On March 13, he shot down Konrad Mettlich, a German commander. On March 16, he and another pilot destroyed a German reconnaissance aircraft.

During a big German attack in March and April, Percy's squadron had to move often. They started flying low to attack targets on the ground. This was very dangerous, and their planes often came back with many bullet holes. Even so, Percy achieved three more victories in April. He shot down two more enemy planes and a Fokker Dr.I triplane.

For his bravery, Percy was awarded the Military Cross. This award recognized his amazing courage. He flew very low to drop bombs and fire his machine gun at enemy troops and vehicles. He caused many problems for the enemy, even when they were shooting back at him. The award also mentioned that he had destroyed four enemy machines and always showed great disregard for danger.

Percy returned to England and flew night patrols over London. He was promoted to captain on September 1, 1918. He then became a flying instructor, teaching new pilots. He left the Royal Air Force on April 26, 1919.

Life After the War

After the war, Percy decided to move to South Africa in January 1920. He went to Malalane, where his uncle had a farm. He and another former pilot grew vegetables to make a living.

In 1927, he moved further north and became a store manager. Later, he worked as a driver for a transportation company. On December 22, 1928, he married Colleen Islay Halliwell.

In 1930, Percy and another driver, Andrew Thatcher, started their own transportation company called "Thatcher & Hobson." They began with one truck and soon had three. They transported goods and people, even getting a mail contract. During the Great Depression, their business faced challenges. However, they won a contract to transport aviation fuel to Mpika, where Imperial Airways had a stop for flights from Europe to South Africa. This helped their company survive and grow.

The company became very successful. They added a fleet of buses to their freight operations. By 1954, Thatcher, Hobson & Co. had 250 trucks and buses. The company was then taken over by another large transport company. Percy Hobson reportedly left the business before this to farm in Tanganyika.