Verhaegen, Henri Paul
Personal Information
Rank | Capt |
Forename(s) | Henri Paul |
Surname | Verhaegen |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | DCM, Croix de Guerre (Belgium) |
Date of Death | 08-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Leo Verhaegen and Octavie Verhaegen. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK743 |
Markings | NF-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Mortseldorp, Antwerp |
Grave Reference | |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 257 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 244284 |
Service | Belgian Army and British Army (Commissioned into the British Army - General List) |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 138 (Special Duties) |
Squadron Motto | For freedom |
Trade | Agent |
Country of Origin | Belgium |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | "The Barn" Gibraltar Farm, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Plaque & Framed Scroll |
Memorial Text | To commemorate the men and women of different nationalities who flew from RAF Tempsford to aid resistance forces in occupied Europe |
Location | St. Peter's Church, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet, Wooden Boards, Brass Plaques & RoH |
Memorial Text | Remembering all those who flew from RAF Tempsford including those of the Royal Australian Air Force |
Miscellaneous Information
Joined the SOE after his parents were sent to a German concentration camp, where his mother later died. After the completion of his training as a Wireless Operator he was given the codename Rhomboid and returned to Belgium in October 1941 with the well known SOE agent Jean Cassart. He was one of five Agents returning to Belgium on this flight but the aircraft had to return with engine problems after two had parachuted in. Three agents and seven crew killed in the crash. |
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.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-01-1944 |
End Date | 08-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (94% moon) |
Operation | Special Operations Executive- Operation Tybalt 3 and Thersites 4, for Belgium |
Reason for Loss | Returned after the operation but crashed at Tetworth Hill near Bedford |