Hagel, Francis Eldon
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Francis Eldon |
Surname | Hagel |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-04-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Percival Elden Hagel and Rachel Amina Hagel (née Campbell), of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Husband of Dorothy Hagel (née Wray). Marriage in Winnipeg on 8 December 1936. They had no children and were separated. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Hampden I |
Serial Number | AT141 |
Markings | EQ- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 3. B. 7-8. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 44 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/71111 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Hagel Lake, Manitoba; 10km west of Fidler Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Miscellaneous Information
Francis was born on 29 May 1909 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father was a Barrister, born in Toronto, and his mother was born in Teulon, Manitoba. His parents lived in Fort Rouge. He had a brother Donald J. who was an observer in the RCAF. He attended St. John’s College, Winnipeg 1924-1926 (Jnr. Matric), and Wesley College 1932-1933. Also at St. John’s he attended the Cadet Course 1925- 1926 as a Signaller. Francis worked in mining exploration and was an assistant Assayer at Central Manitoba Mines between 1928-1929, then as a Driller with Sudbury Diamond Drill Company and Richmond Diamond Drill Co. He also worked as a Diamond Setter for Boyles Brothers. His sport interests were baseball, swimming, paddling boxing and gymnastics and his hobby was reading. |
Francis enlisted on 12 September 1940 and after training embarked for the U.K. on 6 September 1941. He arrived at 3 PRC on 16 September 1941, 16 OTU. 7 October 1941 and 408 Squadron 14 March 1942. He was killed one month later. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/13806 (P367804/42) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1796/18 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1796/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-04-1942 |
End Date | 15-04-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Balderton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund |
Reason for Loss | Victim of a night fighter, the aircraft crashed at Eichlinghofen, near Dortmund |