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Hadley, Keith Bayfield (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-April-25

Birth Date: 1923-January-12 (age 21)

Born: Shellbrook Saskatchewan

Son of C. W. and Pearl Hadley, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. His brother Neville Hughes served in the Second World War.

Home: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Service
RCAF
Unit
107 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nous Y Serons We shall be there
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/21855
107 Squadron (Nous Y Serons). Mosquito aircraft MM 419 was attacking military installations in Northern France when it failed to pull out of a dive. Flying Officer Hadley and the RAF navigator, Flying Officer G. Crabtree, were both killed when the aircraft hit the ground and disintegrated.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Flying Officer Keith Bayfield Hadley was exhumed and reburied.

Home
Google MapPrince Albert, Saskatchewan
First Burial
Google MapBritish Military Cemetery Atst Riquier-Des-Plains, France
Re-Burial
Google MapCimetiere Britannique de Saint-Riquier
Row E Grave 1

Mosquito MM419

de Havilland Mosquito

(British Aerospace photo) (Source Bomber Command Museum of Canada)

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood. Nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, it was affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. The total number of DH98 Mosquito aircraft built was 7,781, the type serving with the main Allied air forces, including both the United States and Russia.

When Mosquito production began in 1941 it was the fastest propeller driven operational aircraft in the world. The first variant was an unarmed, high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, and maritime strike aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side, but a single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FB Mk. VI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho, an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On the 10th anniversary of the Nazi' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Goering was speaking, putting his speech off the air. Goering later said: "It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops."

The Mosquito flew with the RCAF and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theatres. After the end of the Second World War Spartan Air Services flew 10 ex-RAF Mosquitoes, mostly B.35's plus one of only six PR.35's built, for high-altitude photographic survey work in Canada. There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with five airworthy examples, three in the United States, one in Canada and one in New Zealand. Harold Skaarup web page and Wikipedia

YouTube Mosquito

Museum BAE Systems (formerly De Havilland)

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mosquito

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications USAAF F-8 Mosquito Serial Numbers

RCAF Roundel Mosquitos shipped to Taiwanese Airforce

last update: 2024-04-16 00:21:24

Mosquito FB.Mk VI MM419



1944-04-25 Accident Crash during attack on V-1 site Heudibre

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