Born in Iowa. Entered American film as color cinematographer for the M-G-M "Traveltalks" short, RIO DE JANIERO: CITY OF SPLENDOUR (1936). He shot several of these short color travelogues for the studio. Some of his feature cinematography credits (alone or in collaboration) include DIVE BOMBER (1941), 3 GODFATHERS (1948), SO DEAR TO MY HEART and TULSA (both 1949), THE SUNDOWNERS (1950), HALLS OF MONTEZUMA and BIRD OF PARADISE (both 1951), THE REDHEAD FROM WYOMING and RETURN TO PARADISE (both 1953), MISTER ROBERTS (1955), THE SEARCHERS (1956), JET PILOT (1957), THE MISSOURI TRAVELER (1958), THE YOUNG LAND, THE EARTH IS MINE, DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE and THE BIG CIRCUS (all 1959), THE LOST WORLD (1960), VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (1961), SERGEANTS 3 and FIVE WEEKS IN A BALOON (both 1962), ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS (1964), THE GREEN BERETS (1968) and NECROMANCY (1972). Hoch was the first of only two cinematographers, the other being John Toll, to win back-to-back Oscars; his were for Victor Fleming's JOAN OF ARC (1948) and John Ford's SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949). He is also the only cinematographer to share an Oscar with a credited second unit cinematographer, Archie Stout, for John Ford's THE QUIET MAN (1952).  Scientific or Technical (Class III) 1939: (along with Technicolor Motion Picture Company) For an auxililary optical system. (Part of a Multiple Award for important contributions in cooperative development of new improved Process Projection Equipment.)  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1941: DIVE BOMBER (w. Bert Glennon)  Cinematography (Color) 1948: JOAN OF ARC (w. Joseph A. Valentine & William V. Skall)  Cinematography (Color) 1949: SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON  Cinematography (Color) 1952: THE QUIET MAN (w. Archie Stout) 4 nominations, 3 Awards, 1 Scientific/Technical Award