Ernest Charles Hoy

Captain Ernest Charles Hoy DFC (6 May 1895 –22 April 1982) was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 13 victories. He later pioneered airmail flight over the Canadian Rockies.[2]

Ernest Charles Hoy
Born6 May 1895
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Died22 April 1982
Toccoa, Georgia, United States
AllegianceGeorge V of the British Empire[1]
Service/branchAviation
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 29 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Other workPioneered airmail flight over the Canadian Rockies

Early life and service

Hoy was serving in the Canadian militia, in the 93rd Regiment, when he enlisted in the regular forces on 3 March 1915. He gave his next of kin as Charles Hoy, and his occupation as salesman.

First World War service

Hoy joined 29 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory pilot in January 1918. He would not begin to score with them until 12 August. He then tallied up seven wins in August, and six more in September. In summary, he shared in being a balloon buster along with Lieutenant Charles Ross and another pilot, as well as downing one of the observation gasbags solo; he destroyed nine enemy airplanes, including a triumph shared with Lieutenant Christoffel Venter; he also drove two planes down out of control.[3]

On 28 September 1918, the day after his final victory, Hoy was shot down by Leutnant Josef Raesch[4] and imprisoned for the rest of the war.[3]

Post-war

In August 1919, Hoy used a Curtiss Jenny to carry the first airmail from Vancouver to Calgary across the Canadian Rocky Mountains; the pioneering flight took sixteen hours, forty-two minutes.[3]

Honours and awards
  • 3 December 1918 - Lieut. (A./Capt.) Ernest Charles Hoy is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in recognition of gallantry in flying operations against the enemy in France:

A bold and skilful airman who has accounted for four enemy machines and shot down a balloon in flames, displaying at all times a fine fighting spirit, disregarding adverse odds.

— London Gazette[5]
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References
  • Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  • Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.

Notes
  1. Canadian airmen were required to complete an Attestation Paper in which they declared an oath of allegiance to King George the Fifth and agreed to serve in any arm of the service for the duration of the war between Great Britain and Germany. aerodrome.com
  2. "Ernest Hoy". theaerodrome.com.
  3. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 202.
  4. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. p. 184.
  5. "No. 31046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 1918. p. 14322.


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