Keith Hampshire

Keith MacDermott Hampshire, (10 September 1914 – c. 17 November 1982) was a pilot and ace of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the Second World War. He saw action in twin-engine propeller-driven aircraft, flying intruder, ground attack and night fighter missions.

Hampshire is notable for three achievements in particular: becoming the first person to be awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) twice while posted to RAAF units; commanding front-line squadrons in both the Pacific and European theatres, and; destroying at least seven (and perhaps as many as 10) enemy aircraft in air combat, all of them during 1944.

His younger brother, John Hampshire (1916–1990), also commanded RAAF squadrons in both the Pacific and Europe. to Gladys May Hampshire and Percy George Hampshire. The family moved to Perth, Western Australia (WA), where Percy Hampshire took up a position as State Dairy Expert and later became a cattle breeder. Keith attended Scotch College, where he obtained a Junior Certificate. Hampshire then attended Muresk Agricultural College, worked as a wool classer and gained a pilots' licence in his spare time.

A keen surfer and track and field athlete, Hampshire was a member of the WA team at the 1935 national surf life saving carnival in Sydney,

Europe In the UK, Hampshire undertook a fighter conversion course, and in late 1943, he assumed command of No. 456 Squadron, an Article XV RAAF night fighter unit, at RAF Fairwood Common, in Wales. in Sussex, and three nights later ... downed [two] Ju 88s[:] 3E+FT of 9/KG 6 [over Beer, Devon,] and B3+BL of 3./KG 54 [over Isle Brewers, Somerset]... On 23/24 April they shot down another Ju 88 into the sea near Swanage, whilst on 28/29 April they probably damaged a Do 217[,] 86 miles off Durrington [West Sussex]. On 22/23 May they downed a Ju 88S off the Isle of Wight, and on 12/13 June claimed ... another Ju 88 over the [English] Channel. Hampshire shot down one of the heavy bombers and 456 Sqn destroyed four in all. 456 Sqn also destroyed more than 20 V-1 flying bombs.

Hampshire ceased combat duties in November 1944, after which he was posted to No. 300 Group, RAF Transport Command.

On 18 February 1945, Hampshire was awarded a Bar to his DSO, as a result of his service with 456 Sqn (see the citation opposite).

He was discharged from the RAAF in Australia on 29 April 1946, by which time he had achieved the substantive rank of group captain.

Later life Nelson said of Hampshire's post-war life, that his "confidence, even arrogance, in decision-making, his courage, skill, competitiveness and acceptance of the loneliness of command that had served him well in the air war did not transfer easily into business." He never married.

Hampshire worked for the British Aviation Insurance Group in Australia and Asia, as well as fields such as farming, oil exploration, aircraft sales and importing.

During the 1960s, he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts (1963) and a Master of Arts in economics (1970).

While visiting the United States, on or about 17 November 1982, Hampshire died from injuries following a fall from a beach cliff at Palos Verdes, California. A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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