Tom F. Hazell
Encyclopedia
Thomas Falcon Hazell DSO
, MC
, DFC
& Bar
(7 August 1892 -4 Sept 1946) was a fighter pilot with the Royal Flying Corps
, and later, the Royal Air Force during World War I
. Falcon scored 43 victories between 1917-18 making him the fifth most successful British “flying ace
” during the war, and the third most successful Irish
-born pilot, behind Edward Mannock
and George McElroy
, as well the only pilot to survive the war from both groups.
, County Galway
on the west coast of Ireland, to Thomas Hazell and Cecile Buckley. He attended Tonbridge
school until 1911.
. He soon took a commission with the 7th battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
. Two years later in 1916, Hazell transferred from the fusiliers to the Royal Flying Corps
. Surviving a bad crash in June 1916, and after completing his training, Hazell joined No. 1 Squadron on the Western Front
. Flying Nieuport 17
Scouts, he shot down 20 enemy machines and by August 1917 received the Military Cross
.
After a period as instructor at the Central Flying School
Hazell took command of 'A' flight in No. 24 Squadron, flying the SE-5a. On 22 August 1918, Hazell shot down an observation balloon despite its escort of seven Fokker DVIIs. The escort was led by German ace Ernst Udet
, who attacked and riddled Hazell's petrol tank, propeller, and two longerons with bullets. In spite of this Hazell fought his way back, eyes full of petrol, and landed safely. Udet thought that he had forced the British pilot to crash, and actually claimed him as his 60th victory. Hazell finished the war with 43 confirmed kills, the top British surviving ace of the 1914-18 war (excluding Dominion airmen).
His claims tally consisted of one captured enemy airplane; ten enemy observation balloons destroyed (two of which were shared); 18 enemy aircraft destroyed (including one shared); fourteen aircraft driven down 'out of control' (including 3 shared).
(DSO) and a Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC). During the 1920s Hazell was a commander of a series of Squadrons in the Middle East, most notably Iraq
.
In 1944, at the age of 52, Hazell became the commander of "D" Company, 24th (Tettenhall) Battalion, South Staffordshire Home Guard during the later part of the Second World War. Two years later in Ireland
, Thomas Falcon Hazell died in 1946 at the age of 54.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(7 August 1892 -4 Sept 1946) was a fighter pilot with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, and later, the Royal Air Force during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Falcon scored 43 victories between 1917-18 making him the fifth most successful British “flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
” during the war, and the third most successful Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born pilot, behind Edward Mannock
Edward Mannock
Major Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO and Two Bars, MC & Bar was a British First World War flying ace. Mannock was probably born in Ireland, though of English and Scottish parentage....
and George McElroy
George McElroy
Captain George Edward Henry McElroy MC and Two Bars, DFC and Bar was a leading ace fighter pilot of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War I. He was credited with 47 aerial victories....
, as well the only pilot to survive the war from both groups.
Early life
Hazell was born in RoundstoneRoundstone
Roundstone may refer to:*Roundstone, County Galway, a village in the Republic of Ireland.*Roundstone, West Sussex, a village in England.*Roundstone Music, an English rock band....
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
on the west coast of Ireland, to Thomas Hazell and Cecile Buckley. He attended Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
school until 1911.
World War I
Upon the outbreak of War in 1914, Hazell volunteered for service as a private with the South Irish HorseSouth Irish Horse
The South Irish Horse was a Territorial Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. Formed on the 2nd January 1902 as the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry. It was renamed as the South Irish Horse from 7 July 1908 and transferred to the Special Reserve...
. He soon took a commission with the 7th battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was a Irish infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot...
. Two years later in 1916, Hazell transferred from the fusiliers to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. Surviving a bad crash in June 1916, and after completing his training, Hazell joined No. 1 Squadron on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. Flying Nieuport 17
Nieuport 17
|-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, Jack. "Those Classic Nieuports". Air Enthusiast Quarterly. Number Two, 1976. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 137–153....
Scouts, he shot down 20 enemy machines and by August 1917 received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
After a period as instructor at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
Hazell took command of 'A' flight in No. 24 Squadron, flying the SE-5a. On 22 August 1918, Hazell shot down an observation balloon despite its escort of seven Fokker DVIIs. The escort was led by German ace Ernst Udet
Ernst Udet
Colonel General Ernst Udet was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war . His 62 victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus...
, who attacked and riddled Hazell's petrol tank, propeller, and two longerons with bullets. In spite of this Hazell fought his way back, eyes full of petrol, and landed safely. Udet thought that he had forced the British pilot to crash, and actually claimed him as his 60th victory. Hazell finished the war with 43 confirmed kills, the top British surviving ace of the 1914-18 war (excluding Dominion airmen).
His claims tally consisted of one captured enemy airplane; ten enemy observation balloons destroyed (two of which were shared); 18 enemy aircraft destroyed (including one shared); fourteen aircraft driven down 'out of control' (including 3 shared).
After the war and later years
After the war had concluded, Hazell was given a permanent commission by the Royal Air Force as well as being decorated with both a Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) and a Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(DFC). During the 1920s Hazell was a commander of a series of Squadrons in the Middle East, most notably Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
In 1944, at the age of 52, Hazell became the commander of "D" Company, 24th (Tettenhall) Battalion, South Staffordshire Home Guard during the later part of the Second World War. Two years later in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Thomas Falcon Hazell died in 1946 at the age of 54.