TFH 8/20: LTJG Robert Brown Hopgood, USN

Land based aircraft were a key component of protecting Allied convoys during World War II's Battle of the Atlantic. The United States Navy stationed patrol planes in Iceland at Naval Air Station Keflavik.

70 years ago today, a young aircraft commander of a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat doggedly pressed home his attack on the Nazi U-Boat U-464, sinking it. For his heroism and skill in the air, he was decorated with the Navy Cross.

His name was Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert Brown Hopgood.


From Military Times' Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Robert Brown Hopgood, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Senior Pilot of a Navy PBY5 Navy Patrol Plane in Patrol Squadron SEVENTY-THREE (VP-73), in action against an enemy submarine in Skerja Fjord, near Reykjavik, Iceland, on 20 August 1942. The enemy submarine was sighted on the surface while the Navy Patrol Plane was on a regular air coverage flight over a convoy. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hopgood maneuvered his plane skillfully and accurately dropped five depth charges which straddled the submarine and exploded close aboard on each side just abaft the conning tower. In the face of the enemy's anti-aircraft fire Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hopgood proceeded to maneuver his plane over the submarine and strafe it with machine gun fire; he then led a destroyer from the convoy to the scene. As the destroyer was approaching, the enemy abandoned the sinking submarine. A large number of prisoners were taken by the destroyer. The initiative and resourcefulness of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hopgood, in the face of enemy anti-aircraft fire and undesirable weather conditions, resulted in the certain destruction of the enemy submarine and capture of many survivors. His conduct throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Internet searches on Lieutenant Hopgood's name yielded no readily obtained records. If still living, I'd expect him to be well into his nineties.