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Hugh-Verity

A veteran interview with

Hugh Verity

Hugh Verity was an RAF fighter pilot and later a “special duties” squadron pilot working with SOE landing in occupied France to insert and extract agents. He was decorated for gallantry 5 times!

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About Hugh Verity

Hugh Verity, an RAF fighter pilot and later a squadron pilot worked with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), carrying out missions to France. Flying the Westland Lysander, he completed 24 successful operations and 5 more in the Lockheed Hudson. Hugh’s work was vital to the war effort, involving the secret transportation of agents into France and back to the UK.

When asked about memorable experiences, Hugh explained he made it his business to not make any. He recalls harrowing stories of his predecessors, one ambushed on the ground in Belgium. But while German forces remained the obvious threat, Hugh tells us that his greatest adversaries as a pilot were fog and mud. The elements made landing on fields extremely difficult and dangerous. Some pilots had no choice to leave their aircraft’s which had sank into the ground. Hugh does recall one significantly tumultuous journey due to fog.

Hugh proudly covers his time in the war, talking of the ability of the Lysander, weather challenges, and meeting secret agents he had previously piloted during the war. Hugh’s story captures the intense, clandestine work of RAF pilots working to insert and extract agents in France. For his military efforts Hugh was recognised and decorated for gallantry five times.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox
Reviewed by:
Laura

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Home | Veterans | Hugh Verity

A veteran interview with

Hugh Verity

Hugh-Verity

Hugh Verity was an RAF fighter pilot and later a “special duties” squadron pilot working with SOE landing in occupied France to insert and extract agents. He was decorated for gallantry 5 times!

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Verity, Hugh. A Veteran Interview with Hugh Verity. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/hugh-verity/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
APA Style:
Verity, H. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Hugh Verity [Interview by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/hugh-verity/
Chicago Style:
Verity, Hugh. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Hugh Verity. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/hugh-verity/
Harvard Style:
Verity, H. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Hugh Verity. [Interviewed by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/hugh-verity/ (Accessed: 18 April 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Verity, H. A Veteran Interview with Hugh Verity [Internet]. Interview by M. Cox. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Apr 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/hugh-verity/
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