Hugo, Petrus Hendrik
- Date of birth:
- December 20th, 1917 (Pampoenpoort/Cape Province, South Africa)
- Date of death:
- June 6th, 1986 (Victoria West/Karoo, South Africa)
- Nationality:
- South African (1910-1961, Union)
Biography
Servicenumber 41848.
Hugo achieved 22 air victories of whicht 6 with the Hawker Hurricane and 16 with the Supermarine Spitfire.
Promotions:
21st October 1939: Pilot Officer on probation;
23rd January 1940: Pilot Officer
21st October 1940: Flying Officer;
21st October 1941: Flight Lieutenant;
12th July 1942: Squadron Leader;
22nd June 1943: Wing Commander;
1st September 1945: permanent Squadron Leader.
Career:
February 1939 - December 1939: Royal Air Force;
December 1939 - Jly 1941: Pilot No. 615 Squadron;
July 1941 - November 1941: Flight Leader No. 615 Squadron;
20 November 1941 - 12 April 1942: Squadron Leader No. 41 Squadron;
13th April 1942 - July 1942: Commander Tangmere;
July 1942 - November 1942: Commander Hornchurch;
November 1942 - November 1944: Wing Commander No. 322 Wing;
November 1944 - May 1945: Commanding Officer Desert Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Pilot Officer
- Unit:
- No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- August 23rd, 1940
"Pilot Officer Hugo has displayed great keenness to engage the enemy on every possible occasion. During June and July, 1940, he destroyed five enemy aircraft."
Published in The London Gazette dated 23rd August 1940.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- November 25th, 1941
Citation:
"Since early in, September 1941, this officer has participated in numerous attacks on enemy shipping during which some 35 vessels
have been either sunk, set on fire or damaged; also several E-boats were damaged in 2 further attacks. Other losses sustained by the enemy were a petrol storage tank which was set on fire, and 1 of their aircraft destroyed. In the execution of operational tasks necessitating the greatest skill and determination, Flight Lieutenant Hugo has displayed high qualities of leadership and courage. Although he has been continuously engaged on operational flying since the war began his enthusiasm remains unabated."
Received as a first bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Published in The London Gazette dated 25th November 1941.
"Since early in, September 1941, this officer has participated in numerous attacks on enemy shipping during which some 35 vessels
have been either sunk, set on fire or damaged; also several E-boats were damaged in 2 further attacks. Other losses sustained by the enemy were a petrol storage tank which was set on fire, and 1 of their aircraft destroyed. In the execution of operational tasks necessitating the greatest skill and determination, Flight Lieutenant Hugo has displayed high qualities of leadership and courage. Although he has been continuously engaged on operational flying since the war began his enthusiasm remains unabated."
Received as a first bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Published in The London Gazette dated 25th November 1941.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Wing Commander
- Unit:
- No. 41 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- May 29th, 1942
Citation:
"This officer has completed over 500 hours operational flying, a large proportion of which has been on patrols over enemy territory.
During the autumn of 1941, he performed outstanding work in attacks on enemy shipping. He is a fine leader and, during a period of 5 months from November, 1941, his unit destroyed at least 12 and damaged
several more enemy aircraft. Both as squadron commander and wing leader, this officer has displayed exceptional skill, sound
judgment and fighting qualities which have won the entire confidence of all pilots in his command. He has destroyed 13 hostile aircraft and damaged a further 7."
Published in The London Gazette dated 29th May 1942.
"This officer has completed over 500 hours operational flying, a large proportion of which has been on patrols over enemy territory.
During the autumn of 1941, he performed outstanding work in attacks on enemy shipping. He is a fine leader and, during a period of 5 months from November, 1941, his unit destroyed at least 12 and damaged
several more enemy aircraft. Both as squadron commander and wing leader, this officer has displayed exceptional skill, sound
judgment and fighting qualities which have won the entire confidence of all pilots in his command. He has destroyed 13 hostile aircraft and damaged a further 7."
Published in The London Gazette dated 29th May 1942.
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Wing Commander
- Awarded on:
- February 15th, 1943
“After having brilliantly participated in the campaign over France conducted in the Autumn of 1941, in the course of many offensive missions against enemy navigation, his squadron to which were attached the French pilots.
In 1942, personally led at the head of the Group ‘Isle de France’ 19 offensive missions of which 5 were carried out in the single day of 19th Aug. 1942, during the course of the combined operations over Dieppe.”
No. 1778/1961/C.
Received with Bronze Palme.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Wing Commander
- Unit:
- No. 322 Wing, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- February 16th, 1943
Citation:
"In operations in North Africa, Wing Commander Hugo has taken part in many sorties on which he has destroyed at least 4 enemy aircraft. He has displayed gallant leadership and great skill during an outstanding record of operational flying."
Received as a second bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Published in The London Gazette dated 16th February 1943.
"In operations in North Africa, Wing Commander Hugo has taken part in many sorties on which he has destroyed at least 4 enemy aircraft. He has displayed gallant leadership and great skill during an outstanding record of operational flying."
Received as a second bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
Published in The London Gazette dated 16th February 1943.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Group Captain
- Unit:
- No. 322 Wing, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- November 14th, 1944
Citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights from Corsica under American Command from 23 April to 23 June 1944. During this period, his command was in tactical support of the Allied Ground Forces in Italy, and flew more than 536 missions, destroying 20 enemy aircraft, 234 motor transport and miscellaneous enemy shipping. Group Captain Hugo was personally responsible for great destruction and damage to material and communications so vital to the enemy. His inspiring aerial leadership, steadfast devotion to duty and personal example reflect great credit to himself and the Allied Air Forces.
Published in The London Gazette dated 14th November 1944.
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights from Corsica under American Command from 23 April to 23 June 1944. During this period, his command was in tactical support of the Allied Ground Forces in Italy, and flew more than 536 missions, destroying 20 enemy aircraft, 234 motor transport and miscellaneous enemy shipping. Group Captain Hugo was personally responsible for great destruction and damage to material and communications so vital to the enemy. His inspiring aerial leadership, steadfast devotion to duty and personal example reflect great credit to himself and the Allied Air Forces.
Published in The London Gazette dated 14th November 1944.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: The South African Military History Society
- Photo: The South African Military History Society
- - The London Gazette of Tuesday 28th November 1939, Issue 34742
- The London Gazette of Tuesday 27th February 1940, Issue 34801
- The London Gazette of Friday 23rd August 1940, Issue 34929
- The London Gazette of 29th October 1940, Issue 34982
- The London Gazette of Tuesday 18th November 1941, Issue 35350
- Second supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 21st November 1941, Issue 35356, dated 25th November 1941
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Tuesday 26th May 1942, Issue 35577, dated 29th May 1942
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Tuesday 1st September 1942, Issue 35691, dated 4th September 1942
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 12th February 1943, Issue 35904, dated 16th February 1943
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of Tuesday 27th July 1943, Issue 36113, dated 30th July 1943
- Third Supplement of The London Gazette of Friday 10th November 1944, Issue 26793, dated 14th November 1944
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th February 1947, Issue 37892, dated 28th February 1947
- The South African Military History Society
- Ciel de la Gloire
- Hawker Hurricane "Defender of the Empire"
- Angela Elisabeth Petrina Hugo (daughter)
Photo
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