Hadlow, Douglas William Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Douglas William |
| Surname | Hadlow |
| Gender | M |
| Date of Death | 09-10-1943 |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
| Serial Number | JN885 |
| Markings | MH-A |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Joint grave 17. G. 12-13. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 174 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 1601759 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 4 |
| Squadron | 51 |
| Squadron Motto | Swift and sure |
| Trade | Air Gunner |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Village Hall, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque on external wall |
| Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF Snaith Oct 1942 - Apr 1945 |
| Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Sqn Crest & Roll of Honour |
| Memorial Text | 51 Sqn Roll of Honour |
| Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Multiple Inscribed Metal Plaques, Propeller Unit |
| Memorial Text | In memory of the 687 airmen of 51 Sqn, 4 Gp, Bomber Command who lost their lives flying Halifax bombers Mks 2 and 3 at RAF Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945 |
| Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 51 Sqn |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Gardens, Propeller, Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | In everlasting homage to the courage of those who have found their winged victory through the skies of Yorkshire |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Propeller Unit & Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | They made the supreme sacrifice so that you & I may go in peace with freedom. 4 Group 1939 - 1945. |
| Location | Heslington Hall, York, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Heslington Hall 1941 - 1945, 4 Gp Headquarters Bomber Command. In remembrance of those Air & Ground personnel who made the supreme sacrifice that we all may walk in peace with freedom |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/38 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/492/38 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Brown G H (Sgt) | Died |
| Crofts R (Sgt) | Died |
| Davies F (Sgt) | Died |
| Hickmott E (Sgt) | Died |
| James A W (P/O) | Died |
| Porter E D (F/O) | Died |
| Preece W J (F/S) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 08-10-1943 |
| End Date | 09-10-1943 |
| Takeoff Station | Snaith |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (74% moon) |
| Operation | Hanover. 504 aircraft and the last to include Wellingtons, none of which were Lost 27 Lancasters and Halifaxes were Lost (5.4%). The Germans had correctly assumed that Hanover was the target and there was much night-fighter activity as a result. The conditions were clear and both marking and the subsequent bombing were accurate and concentrated, with little creepback. The electrical, water and telephone services were destroyed in what was Hanover's worst attack of the war. An impressive marshalling regime on the ground concentrated the public into areas between the fires, saving many lives. Even so, 1200 people were killed and 3345 injured. almost 4000 buildings were destroyed amongst which were the Continental rubber factory and Hanomag machine works. |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Crashed west of Bassum, Germany |