The Airmen's Stories - P/O J B Hobbs

Joseph Bedo Hobbs, of Smeeth in Kent, was born in July 1915, the son of William Bedo Hobbs and Christine Maud Hobbs. He had a twin sister, Beryl.

Hobbs attended Tonbridge School and joined the RAF on a short service commission on 6th February 1939.

With his training completed, he joined 253 Squadron at Manston in late 1939.

On 13th May 1940 Hobbs was posted to France and he flew to Manston from Kenley, in company with two others, in Hurricanes en route to France. They joined 3 Squadron at Merville on 14th May. On the 17th he shared a He111, on the 19th he destroyed two and on the 20th he shared two more.

As a member of ‘B’ Flight, Hobbs went with it to Sumburgh on 17th July where it became 232 Squadron on the 21st.

In 1941 Hobbs was serving with 274 Squadron in the Western Desert. On 15th June 1941 he destroyed a Hs126 and on the 24th, on a convoy patrol, he intercepted three SM79s and destroyed one.

He was killed on 7th December 1941 as a Flight Lieutenant, shot down in Hurricane BD783 by Uffz. Grimm in an action west of El Adem when 274 were engaging Ju87s escorted by Me109s and Macchis.

Hobbs was 26.

He is buried in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo.

He is commemorated by a plaque at Tonbridge School (below).