12 Facts About Osgood Hanbury

Osgood Hanbury had scored 11 victories before he was killed in action in 1943.

Osgood Hanbury was educated at Eton College and after training received a short service commission in the Royal Air Force on 30 June 1940.

Osgood Hanbury initially served as a Westland Lysander pilot, carrying out liaison duties in the British Isles.

On 3 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Osgood Hanbury volunteered to transfer to Fighter Command and was posted to No 602 Squadron RAF.

Osgood Hanbury soon scored several victories in aerial battles over the English Channel and southern England flying X4382, a late production Supermarine Spitfire Mk I By the end of 1940 he had four confirmed victories.

On 23 June 1942 Osgood Hanbury became commanding officer of the squadron and was promoted to flight officer.

Osgood Hanbury was killed on 3 June 1943 while travelling as a passenger on a Lockheed Hudson of No 117 Squadron RAF piloted by Robert Yaxley, which was shot down by a German aircraft over the Bay of Biscay.

Osgood Hanbury had scored a total of 11 confirmed victories at the time of his death.

Eleven days before his death, Osgood Hanbury had married Patricia Cecil Harman, daughter of Charles Cecil Harman and Muriel Kathleen Marion Huth, on 22 May 1943.

Osgood Hanbury gave birth to their son, Christopher Osgood Philip Hanbury, on 16 February 1944.

Squadron Leader Osgood Hanbury has destroyed at least 5 enemy aircraft.

In operations covering the great advance from El Alamein, Squadron Leader Osgood Hanbury led formations of aircraft with great skill, attacking and harassing the enemy with destructive effect.