Hadley, James Frederick
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | James Frederick |
Surname | Hadley |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | son of Frederick James Hadley and Dorothy Clara Hadley (Foster), on Montreal, Quebec. Husband of Jacqueline Hadley (née Letourneau- date of marriage 27 December 1940). Father of Robert James Hadley (born 10 November 1941 in Montreal) and Richard Frederick Hadley (born 1944). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster X |
Serial Number | KB777 |
Markings | NA-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 11. C. 2. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 174 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/10986 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to fomer St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served on 428 (RCAF) Sqn at Middleton St. George during WWII, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice |
Miscellaneous Information
James was born on 30 January 1917 in Montreal. Both parents were born in Montreal and his father was a retired Manufacturer. He was also the Reeve of Iroquois, Ontario. James had a sister Marian. He attended Willingdon Public School, Montreal, 1924-1932 ( Grades 1-8). West Hill High, 1932-1934 (Grades 9–10) and Sir George Williams Business College 1934-1935 (typing, shorthand and bookkeeping). The sports he took part in were swimming, running, skiing and softball and his hobby was Amateur radio - building short wave receivers. Between 1935-1940, James worked as a Stock supervisor for Consolidated Dyestuff Corp.(Dye importers). James also spent a year, June 1940- June 1941 with the 1st, Btn. Black Watch, Royal Highlanders. They lived in Victoria Avenue, Point Claire, Que. |
On 11 June 1941, James enlisted in Halifax and after training was sent to the U.K. He arrived at 3 PRC 31 January 1944, and then went through 15(P) AFU 4 April 1944, 82 OTU 18 July 1944, 61 Base 11 October 1944, and 428 Squadron 18 January 1945. It was from here that James sadly lost his life approximately two months later. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1850/30 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1850/29 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-03-1945 |
End Date | 22-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Hildesheim- to attack the railway yards. 235 aircraft, 4 losses. Although the attack was on the railway yards, this raid had all the hallmarks of area bombing. A post war survey put the level of damage at 70% of the town and this was the only raid upon it. The cathedral, most of the churches and many historic buildings were destroyed. More than 10000 apartments were also destroyed and 1645 people were killed |
Reason for Loss | Last seen on the homebound leg at less than 5000' with the port inner engine feathered and on fire. Subsequently abandoned |