Hobbs, Basil Deacon (Major, RCAF)

Hobbs moved to Canada at a young age. In 1915 he took flight training at the Wright School in Dayton, Ohio and joined the RNAS. While flying a Curtiss H-12 Flying Boat, Hobbs was one of the few pilots to score a victory over a German Zeppelin. He also sank two German submarines on these patrols. He is the second most highly decorated pilot in Canada, behind Billy Bishop. The most important contribution Hobbs made in Canadian aviation was in his role in the period between the World Wars. In 1924 he was the sole pilot for the first long-range air survey over northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba which, at the time, was quoted as being one of the most brilliant achievements in aviation. At Canada's entry into WWII, Hobbs was made a Group Captain in the RCAF and made CO of the base in Dartmouth, N.S. where he directed anti-submarine operations and training.