HADLINGTON John Douglas

Appears on the Royal Air Force casualties list for Worcestershire.

A letter from H.J. Winnington, Honorary Secretary of PCC, St James Church, Wollaston dated 17th December 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Flight Sergeant John D. Hadlington, RAF be added to the county roll of honour.

The following information has been researched and transcribed by The Black Country Society:
John Hadlington came from Wollaston and enlisted in the Royal Air Force. He trained for air crew and qualified as an Air Gunner. At the start of 1944 he was stationed with 97 Squadron at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, flying Lancasters. In June the enemy had started to employ Hitler’s ‘terror weapons’ and the V1 was becoming a serious threat to London. On the night of 24th-25th June Bomber Command sent out 739 aircraft to attack flying bomb launching sites. The aircraft from 97 Squadron were targeted on Prouville in the Pas de Calais. It was a clear moon-lit night and no fewer than 13 Lancasters were lost to night fighters over the target. Lancaster III NE 124 took off at 22.53 but came under sustained attack from a German night fighter. It was brought down in flames near Marles sur Canche not far from the coast at Le Touquet. Four of the crew baled out successfully, including one who evaded capture. Flight Sergeant John Hadlington did not survive.