The Airmen's Stories - F/O J R Hardacre

John Reginald Hardacre was born in Birmingham on 26th June 1916, the son of James William Hardacre and Marion Eleanor Hardacre (nee Thorley).

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1938. He was serving with 504 Squadron in France in May 1940.

Hardacre was shot down twice on 16th May, the first time he made a crash-landing in a field and the second time he baled out safely from a flaming aircraft.

On 15th May Hardacre claimed a Ju87 and a Ju88 destroyed and on the 19th a Me109 damaged. 501 Squadron was withdrawn from Dinard on 18th June, operated from Jersey on the 19th to cover the evacuation of the BEF from Cherbourg and then reassembled at Croydon on the 21st.

On 7th September Hardacre claimed a Me110 destroyed and on the 15th a Do17.

He was shot down in combat over the south-west coast on 30th September 1940 and killed. His Hurricane, P3414, crashed into the sea. Hardacre's body was washed ashore on 10th October.

Hardacre is buried in All Saints' churchyard, Fawley, Hampshire. His logbook showed five confirmed victories and two enemy aircraft damaged.