Herbert George Hegarty

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Herbert George Hegarty
Born(1885-10-31)31 October 1885
Clonbur, County Galway, Ireland
Died 1953 (aged 67–68)
Somerset, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service 1911–1919
Rank Captain
Unit Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps
No. 60 Squadron RFC/RAF
Battles/wars World War I
 • Western Front
Awards Military Cross
Other work Banker

Captain Herbert George Hegarty MC (31 October 1885 – 1953) was an Irish World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. [1]

Military Cross third-level military decoration of the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth officers

The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.

Flying ace Distinction given to fighter pilots

A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more.

Contents

Early life and education

Hegarty was born in Clonbur, County Galway, and was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He then gained a position at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, based in Hong Kong. He also served as a second lieutenant in the Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps from October 1911. [2]

Clonbur Village in Connacht, Ireland

An Fhairche is a Gaeltacht village in County Galway, Ireland.

County Galway County in the Republic of Ireland

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West of Ireland, part of the province of Connacht.

Portora Royal School

Portora Royal School located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was one of the 'Public Schools' founded by the Royal Charter in 1608, by James I, making it one of the oldest schools in Ireland at the time of its closure. Originally called Enniskillen Royal School, the school was established some ten years after the Royal Decree, in 1618, 15 miles outside Enniskillen at Ballybalfour, before moving to Enniskillen in 1661. It was not until 1778 that the school moved to its final location on Portora Hill, Enniskillen, where the nucleus of the later all boys school was built. The school admitted a mixture of boarders and day pupils for much of its history, but became a day school in the 1980s.

World War I

In 1917 Hegarty travelled from Hong Kong to England via North America. [1] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) to serve in the Royal Flying Corps on 8 June, [3] and was posted to No. 5 and No. 28 Training Squadrons between July and September, [4] being confirmed in his rank on 8 September. [5]

Royal Flying Corps former air warfare service of the British Army

The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War, until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC supported the British Army by artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance. This work gradually led RFC pilots into aerial battles with German pilots and later in the war included the strafing of enemy infantry and emplacements, the bombing of German military airfields and later the strategic bombing of German industrial and transport facilities.

In November 1917 Hegarty was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC based at Sainte-Marie-Cappel, France, to fly a S.E.5a single-seat fighter. [2] He gained his first aerial victory on 28 January 1918, driving down out of control an Albatros D.V fighter over Kortemark. On 4 February he shared in the shooting down in flames of another D.V over Zonnebeke, and destroyed two more on 18 and 30 March. On 14 May he destroyed an Albatros two-seater to gain his fifth victory and ace status. Early on 16 May 1918 he shared in the destruction of an LVG two-seater over Fampoux with American ace Lieutenant John Griffith, [1] and later that day was recommended for the Military Cross, which cited his six confirmed victories and mentions several other unconfirmed ones. [2] His award was gazetted on 13 September, the citation reading:

Sainte-Marie-Cappel Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Sainte-Marie-Cappel is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 fighter aircraft family

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the fastest aircraft of the war, while being both stable and relatively manoeuvrable. According to aviation author Robert Jackson, the S.E.5 was: "the nimble fighter that has since been described as the 'Spitfire of World War One'".

Albatros D.V fighter aircraft

The Albatros D.V was a fighter aircraft built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke and used by the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service. Despite its well-known shortcomings and general obsolescence, approximately 900 D.V and 1,612 D.Va aircraft were built before production halted in early 1918. The D.Va continued in operational service until the end of the war.

Second Lieutenant Herbert George Hegarty, RAF.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on offensive patrols. During recent operations he destroyed four enemy machines and drove down two. He is a bold and fearless pilot, and has done splendid work." [6]

Hegarty was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 13 June, [7] and gained two more aerial victories on 30 June and 1 July. [1] He was posted to the Home Establishment on 15 July 1918 to serve as an instructor at the No. 4 Fighting School at RAF Freiston, Lincolnshire. [2] Hegarty was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 6 February 1919. [8]

Flight commander air force position

A flight commander is the leader of a constituent portion of an aerial squadron in aerial operations, often into combat. That constituent portion is known as a flight, and usually contains six or fewer aircraft, with three or four being a common number. The tactical need for commonality in performance characteristics of aircraft usually insures that all aircraft under a flight commander's command and control in air operations are the same or very similar types.

RAF Freiston

RAF Freiston is a former Royal Air Force station located about five miles (8 km) east of Boston, Lincolnshire, which was in operation during the First World War.

List of aerial victories

Combat record [1]
No.Date/TimeAircraft/
Serial No.		Opponent Result Location Notes
1 28 January 1918
@ 1320 		S.E.5a
(B626) 		Albatros D.V Out of control Kortemark, Belgium
2 4 February 1918
@ 1125 		S.E.5a
(B626) 		Albatros D.V Destroyed in flames Zonnebeke, Belgium Shared with Lieutenant H. D. Crompton.
3 18 February 1918
@ 1230 		S.E.5a
(C9536) 		Albatros D.V Out of control Staden, Belgium
4 30 March 1918
@ 1110 		S.E.5a
(C5381) 		Albatros D.V Destroyed South of Albert, France
5 14 May 1918
@ 0730 		S.E.5a
(B190) 		Albatros C Destroyed Moreuil, France
6 16 May 1918
@ 0845 		S.E.5a
(B190) 		LVG C Destroyed Fampoux, France Shared with Lieutenant John Griffith.
7 30 June 1918
@ 0510 		S.E.5a
(D5992) 		Albatros D.V Destroyed Rainecourt, France
8 1 July 1918
@ 0840 		S.E.5a
(D5992) 		Halberstadt C Destroyed Bray, France

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Herbert George Hegarty". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Auction Catalogue of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria". Spink & Son . 22 November 2012. pp. 222–223. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "No. 30158". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 June 1917. p. 6511.
  4. ↑ "RFC and RAF men in Warwickshire (F–L)". Midland Aircraft Recovery Group. 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "No. 30320". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 October 1917. p. 10233.
  6. ↑ "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 10963.
  7. ↑ "No. 30781". The London Gazette. 5 July 1918. p. 7945.
  8. ↑ "No. 31255". The London Gazette. 28 March 1919. pp. 4034–4035.
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