Wing Commander Ernest Leslie ‘Johnny’ Hyde DFC (1914–1942), was a British senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II, best known for his lead role in the Ministry of Information film Coastal Command that was released after his early death from wounds suffered during air operations over Norway in 1942.

[5] In May 1933, Hyde was appointed a midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve but two years later was granted a commission in the RAF as acting pilot officer.

On 9th April, while on reconnaissance duty over Norway, he was attacked by two enemy aircraft which he engaged until damage to his petrol tanks and gun turret forced him to break off.

He crawled inside the wings and stopped up many holes in the tanks, until overcome by fumes; had this not been done the aircraft would not have reached its base.

[10] The aircraft landed in the sea, the wreckage still visible by divers today; contemporary accounts indicate that both Hyde and his co-pilot were alive following the crash but were later reported dead.