John E. L. Hunter

Hunter was born in Hackney, London, the only son of Ellis Hunter,^[1] and was educated at Bedford Modern School.^[2]

He entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight officer (temporary), appointed to HMS President, on 1 October 1916,^[3] and after completing his training was commissioned as a flight sub-lieutenant on 13 June 1917.^[4]

Hunter joined No. 4 Squadron, flying a Sopwith Camel, in July. On 3 September, he and Flight Sub-Lieutenant K. V. Turney drove down a German observation plane out of control. On the 22nd, he shared one of his two victories with Turney when they shot down two seaplanes northeast of Ostend,^[5] for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.^[6]

Hunter was promoted to flight lieutenant on 31 December 1917.^[7] His next victory came on 21 March 1918 when he destroyed a Pfalz D.III off Middelkerke, and he destroyed another on the 26th.^[5] Soon after, on 1 April, the Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) were merged to form the Royal Air Force, and No. 4 Naval Squadron was renamed No. 204 Squadron RAF.^[6]

On 16 July 1918 Hunter was appointed a temporary captain while serving as a flight commander.^[8] He continued to score sporadically until 12 August, when he flamed one Fokker D.VII, destroyed another, and drove a third down out of control, to bring his total to 13. He suffered a leg wound in the process, but the action won him the Distinguished Flying Cross.^[5][6]

Hunter was confirmed in the rank of captain on 21 January 1919,^[9] but left the RAF six months later, being transferred to the unemployed list, on 2 July.^[10]

Ellis died in South Africa in 1971, and is buried in the cemetery at Somerset West, Western Cape.^[11]

Distinguished Service Cross

Flight Sub-Lieutenant John Ellis Langford Hunter, R.N.A.S.

"In recognition of his services with a Wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between July and September, 1917, during which time he has carried out continuous work on offensive patrols. On 22 September 1917, he destroyed two enemy aircraft which were attempting to interfere with our spotting machines."^[12]

Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Ellis Langford Hunter, D.S.C. (Sea Patrol).

"A fine fighting pilot and flight leader. On 12 September, whilst leading his formation on escort duty, he engaged nine Fokker biplanes. He destroyed two and drove a third down out of control. In this combat he was severely wounded in the leg."^[13]

Citations

Bibliography

• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.