Frederick Hards

Frederick Hards
Born 17 March 1889
Cookham, Berkshire, England
Died 10 July 1963 (aged 74)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1914 – 1943
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Commands held No. 230 Squadron
RAF Malta
British Forces Aden
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Vice-Marshal Frederick George Darby Hards CBE DSC DFC (17 April 1889 – 10 July 1963) was a Royal Air Force officer who went on to be Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden.

Military career

Hards joined Royal Fusiliers in 1914 and then served in World War I as a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service.[1] He received his aviator's certificate in 1915.[2] After the War he became Officer Commanding No. 230 Squadron and then, after various staff positions, he was appointed Officer Commanding RAF Malta in 1930.[1] He went on to be Fleet Aviation Officer to Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet in 1933 and Senior Engineering Staff Officer at Fighter Command in 1936.[1]

He served in World War II as Senior Air Staff Officer and then Air Officer Administration at Coastal Command before becoming Air Officer Administration and then Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden; he retired in 1943.[1]

Honours and awards

In recognition of their services on the morning of the 25th April, 1916, when they pursued a Zeppelin 65 miles out to sea, dived to within a few hundred feet of it, and attacked it with bombs and darts.

— London Gazette[3]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
G R M Reid
Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden
1941 1943
Succeeded by
F H McNamara