Dakota Mk III KG376
437 RCAF Squadron - Arnhem Resupply - 21st September 1944
South West of Keldonk (source "Though without anger" Colin Cummings)
F/O G.P. HAGERMAN - J14437 (Captain) - Survived Baled Out
W/O J.P. DE CHAMPLAIN - R113044 (Wireless Officer) - Survived Baled Out
Most of the crew escaped - but sadly, those who perished are listed here;
F/Sgt John C.H. HACKET - 1290119 (2nd Pilot) KILLED IN ACTION - Runnymede Panel 218;
F/O Michael S.R. MAHON - J87637 (Navigator) KILLED IN ACTION - Runnymede Panel 247,
L/Cpl James ADAMSON - 800 Air Despatch Coy RASC - T249802 - KILLED IN ACTION
Groesbeek Memorial of the Missing Panel 11
***Unconfirmed***
It seems there was a communal report that near the house of Mr P. Biemans (address Hool No.6) three unknown allied airmen were buried. No annotation in the report on reburial. Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery has two unknown airmen buried 12.G.6. (with thanks to Henk Welting)
Dakota III KG376 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] RAFCommands.com
Take off of aircraft at 1314 from main runway of RAF Blakehill Farm
The aircraft was set upon by up to nine enemy aircraft between Eindhoven and DZ on return
[437 squadron logs mention Focke Wulf 190’s]
Sources
“Though Without Anger”, Colin Cummings & RAF serial and image database (above)
Dakota Mk III KG376, F/O G. Hagerman, No. 437 Squadron RCAF, Operation Market Garden, 21 September 1944 - Bravo Bravo Aviation
Ena Bromilow commented in June 2026, that her dad, Air Dispatcher Corporal Thomas Latham was also on KG376.
"He bailed out but was shot in his side and was rescued by the farmer along with another despatcher and were treated for their injuries and returned to England about 2 days later. Her father passed away in December 2001,
So thank you so much to the brave farmer for rescuing him .
Its thanks to Vince really for finding things for my son Ashley who is in contact with Vince. Thankyou. Dad never spoke of this until he was in his eighties when he only told us bits. he was awarded membership of the caterpillar club because his parachute got him out of the plane."
Ashley Bromilow then contacted me in October 2026 with this photograph (the same image was received with thanks from Paul Gary Brockbank)
