Top pilot who stole plane to escape WWII prison camp dies

Commander Wallace · 10-26-16, 04:21 PM

Robert Anderson "Bob" Hoover (January 24, 1922 – October 25, 2016)Passed away at the age of 94. Robert was shot down by a FW-190 while flying his 59th mission. He was captured by the Germans and spent 16 months at the German prison camp Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. His malfunctioning Mark V Spitfire was shot down by a F O C K E-Wulf Fw 190 off the coast of Southern France and he was taken prisoner

Robert escaped, Ironically by stealing another FW-190 and flying it to the Netherlands and safety.

Quote: Hoover, who lived in Palos Verdes Estates, California, died early Tuesday, said Bill Fanning, a close family friend for many years and fellow pilot.
"He was every pilot's icon," Fanning said, recalling his friend as one of the premier test pilots of the 1950s and '60s. "Bob tested everything. He flew them all."
When the National Air and Space Museum conferred its highest honor on Hoover in 2007, the museum noted that Jimmy Doolittle, leader of the famed 1942 bomber raid on Japan, had once described Hoover as "the greatest stick-and-rudder man that ever lived."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/top...cid=spartanntp

Quote : Honors and recognition

Hoover was considered one of the founding fathers of modern aerobatics and was described by Jimmy Doolittle as "... the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived" . In the Centennial of Flight edition of the Air & Space Smithsonian, he was named the third greatest aviator in history.
During his illustrious career, Hoover was awarded the following military medals: Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal for non-combat valor, Air Medal with several oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. He was also made an honorary member of the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, RCAF Snowbirds, American Fighter Aces Association, original Eagle Squadron and received an Award of Merit from the American Fighter Pilots Association. In 1988, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and in 1992, the Aerospace Walk of Honor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover

Rest in Peace Robert.

Catfish · 10-26-16, 04:31 PM

R.I.P., best wishes from Germany

Eichhörnchen · 10-26-16, 04:35 PM

In an age where the word is carelessly and grossly over-used, he was clearly a genuine hero

Sailor Steve · 10-26-16, 05:35 PM

I saw mister Hoover perform twice - once in the Shrike Commander and once in a P-51. The highlight of his shows were always a series of aerobatics and a landing...dead stick.

Jimbuna · 10-27-16, 05:06 AM

Blue Skies

~SALUTE~

10-26-16, 04:21 PM	#1
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,325 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	Top pilot who stole plane to escape WWII prison camp dies Robert Anderson "Bob" Hoover (January 24, 1922 – October 25, 2016)Passed away at the age of 94. Robert was shot down by a FW-190 while flying his 59th mission. He was captured by the Germans and spent 16 months at the German prison camp Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. His malfunctioning Mark V Spitfire was shot down by a F O C K E-Wulf Fw 190 off the coast of Southern France and he was taken prisoner Robert escaped, Ironically by stealing another FW-190 and flying it to the Netherlands and safety. Quote: Hoover, who lived in Palos Verdes Estates, California, died early Tuesday, said Bill Fanning, a close family friend for many years and fellow pilot. "He was every pilot's icon," Fanning said, recalling his friend as one of the premier test pilots of the 1950s and '60s. "Bob tested everything. He flew them all." When the National Air and Space Museum conferred its highest honor on Hoover in 2007, the museum noted that Jimmy Doolittle, leader of the famed 1942 bomber raid on Japan, had once described Hoover as "the greatest stick-and-rudder man that ever lived." http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/top...cid=spartanntp Quote : Honors and recognition Hoover was considered one of the founding fathers of modern aerobatics and was described by Jimmy Doolittle as "... the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived" . In the Centennial of Flight edition of the Air & Space Smithsonian, he was named the third greatest aviator in history. During his illustrious career, Hoover was awarded the following military medals: Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal for non-combat valor, Air Medal with several oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. He was also made an honorary member of the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, RCAF Snowbirds, American Fighter Aces Association, original Eagle Squadron and received an Award of Merit from the American Fighter Pilots Association. In 1988, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and in 1992, the Aerospace Walk of Honor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover Rest in Peace Robert.

10-26-16, 04:31 PM	#2
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,811 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	R.I.P., best wishes from Germany __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.

10-26-16, 04:35 PM	#3
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,488 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	In an age where the word is carelessly and grossly over-used, he was clearly a genuine hero __________________

10-26-16, 05:35 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I saw mister Hoover perform twice - once in the Shrike Commander and once in a P-51. The highlight of his shows were always a series of aerobatics and a landing...dead stick. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-27-16, 05:06 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 191,106 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Blue Skies ~SALUTE~ __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!