Air Marshal Sir Raymund George Hart, (28 February 1899 – 16 July 1960) was a senior commander in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

(RAF) during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and the post-war decade. Throughout this period, he was a specialist in military signals and a pioneer in the development of Radar. During the latter part of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Hart was a pilot in the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

and RAF. Between the wars, Hart was a junior and middle-ranking officer in the RAF.

Early life

Hart was born in Merton, Surrey on 28 February 1899 and was educated at the Simon Langton School.

First World War

Hart joined the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

in 1917 and was posted to the Western Front with 15 Squadron. On 11 April 1918 he was flying a

Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed and produced at the Royal Aircraft Factory. It was also built under contract by Austin Motors, Daimler, Standar ...

two-seat biplane on a artillery observation patrol. Over Bouzincourt he was attacked by four German fighters, the elevator controls were damaged by gun fire and Hart attempted to recover the aircraft. His observer Second Lieutenant L.F. Handford managed to shoot three of the fighters down. The R.E.8 crashed and Hart and Handford were wounded. Both men were later awarded the Military Cross for the action.

Royal Air Force

Hart rejoined the Royal Air Force in 1926 and from 1936 he worked at RAF Bawdsey on the first experimental radar station. In 1941 he moved to the Air Ministry as deputy director of Radar before moving to Fighter Command as the Command Signals Officer. In 1944 Hart became Chief Air Signals Officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force whener he was involved in the planning for the D-Day landings. After the war he became Air Officer Commanding of No. 90 Group and from 1951 in the Air Ministry as Director General of Engineering and later Controller of Engineering and Equipment before he retired in 1959.

Family life

Hart was married and had one son. Hart died on 16 July 1960 at his home at Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire, he was electrocuted while connecting power to an electric lawn mower, he was aged 61.

References

Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Raymund Hart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Raymund George 1899 births 1960 deaths British World War I pilots Companions of the Order of the Bath Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force air marshals Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Flying Corps officers Military personnel from Surrey Accidental deaths by electrocution People educated at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys