Robin Hooper

Sir Robin William John Hooper KCMG DSO DFC (26 July 1914 – 14 June 1989) was an English Royal Air Force pilot and diplomat.

On the night of 16/17 November 1943, Flight Lieutenant Hooper, took off in Westland Lysander 'MA-D' ("D" for "Dog") from RAF Tangmere, with Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents in the rear cockpit, for a field in France.

The outward flight was uneventful, but upon landing in a field he soon realised that the ground was extremely soft, requiring a lot of throttle to keep the aircraft moving.

The farmer and his family, eager to help, brought two bullocks with them, while trenches were dug in front of the wheels to form a ramp.

Robin was safely hidden from the Germans until he was evacuated by fellow pick-up pilot Lewis (Bob) Hodges a month later on the night of 16/17 December.