CGM (Flying) citations - Roy Kenneth HEWITT - Robert Service HOGG

**HughAHalliday** · 14th January 2022, 18:31

More cleaning up files - awards gazetted without citations.

HEWITT, Roy Kelly, Sergeant, DFM (622189, Royal Air Force) - No.61 Squadron - Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 May 1943. Born 1914 in Newcastle; home there. Salesman before enlisting, 1938. Awarded DFM in March 1942. Phil McDermott, For Conspicuous Gallantry: The Register of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, 1855-1992, records that the award began as a recommendation for a Bar to the DFM. The engagement mentioned was on 10/11 March 1943; he sent distress signals after extinguishing the fire. Following text from Air Ministry Bulletin: Flight, 10 June 1943 published a text which omitted the last sentence.

This airman has completed a large number of sorties since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. His courage and efficiency as a member of aircraft crew have always been of a very high order and have contributed much to the successful completion of many missions. On one occasion, when returning from an operational sortie, his aircraft was attacked by four enemy fighters. Sergeant Hewitt displayed the utmost courage and coolness in assisting to extinguish a fire which had resulted from the engagement. His conduct throughout all his operations has been most commendable.

AIR 2/8949 has recommendation drafted when he had flown 69 sorties (379 hours):

This airman has completed 17 sorties since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. His courage and efficiency as a member of aircraft crew have always been of a very high order and have contributed much to the successful completion of many missions. On one occasion, when returning from an operational sortie, his aircraft was attacked by four enemy fighters. Sergeant Hewitt displayed the utmost courage and coolness in assisting to extinguish a fire which had resulted from the engagement. He also sent out wireless distress signals. His conduct throughout all his operations has been most commendable.

HOGG, Robert Service, Flight Sergeant (552693, Royal Air Force) - No.49 Squadron - Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 May 1943. Born 1917 at Berwick-on-Tweed. Home in Edinburgh. Electrician before enlisting in 1938. Test found in Air Ministry Bulletin; Flight, 10 June 1943 published a citation that comprised only the first sentence.

This airman has participated in a large number of operational sorties which have included a high proportion of attacks on Essen, Hamburg, and targets in the Ruhr. His calm and confident bearing have contributed much to the success attained by his crew. He has always been of the greatest possible assistance to his captain and navigator, and has frequently done much to secure the safe return of the aircraft to base in hazardous circumstances.

AIR 2/8449 has a citation sent to Awards Committee, drafted when he had flown 64 sorties (394 hours):

This airman has participated in a large number of operational sorties which have included a high proportion of attacks on Essen, Hamburg, and targets in the Ruhr. His calm and confident bearing and the efficiency with which he completes his duties have contributed much to the success attained by his crew. He has always been of the greatest possible assistance to his captain and navigator, and has frequently done much to secure the safe return of the aircraft to base in hazardous circumstances.

**Smith 565** · 18th January 2022, 12:59

Hello Hugh,

Many thanks for posting this and similar threads - very useful to a project I'm working on to link National Archive recommendation files to London Gazettes.

I assume though, re Hogg, that the file should be '8949 and not '8449?

Regards,

Geoff