Remembering Sgt. Pilot Edward Eaglen, RAFVR, 274 Sqn. RAF

            To the west of the churchyard of St. Mary's, Sisland, Norfolk, near the tower, is the grave of Theresa Fairhead. The headstone remembers her eldest son Sgt. Pilot  Edward Eaglen, RAFVR, 274 Sqn. RAF.

In memory of my beloved mother
THERESA FAIRHEAD
Died 23 February 1992
Aged 96
And her elder son
SGT/PLT EDWARD EAGLEN
Killed in action Tripoli
February 1943
Aged 23

Rest in Peace

Edward William C. Eaglen was born in Norwich, the son of John William and Theresa Madge Eaglen, nee Edwards.   
Edward married Florence E. 'Bibby' Wood of South Harrow, Middlesex in the Cambridge area between April and June 1941.   
During the Second World War Edward served as 1269479 Sergeant Pilot in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) posted to 274 Squadron.

274 Squadron was reformed at Amtiya in Egypt on 19th. August 1940. It was equipped with both Hawker Hurricanes, 'A' Flight and Gloster Gladiators, 'B' Flight.  It also took over the Free French Flight previously attached to 80 Squadron, however, this left in September and the following month 'B' Flight re-equipped with Hurricanes.
Between December 1940 and May 1942 the squadron was involved in fighter operations in the Western Desert interspersed with short periods of defensive duty back in Egypt. In May 1942 the squadron's aircraft were converted to the fighter-bomber role and it began ground attack operations in support of the 8th. Army. It took part in the battle of El Alamein.  When the squadron reached Tunisia it was used to give air defence to convoys along the Libyan coast.

On the 5th. February 1943, Sgt Eaglen took-off from Mellaha airfield in Libya flying Hurricane Mk. IIB, serial number BE 397, squadron code NH -? (squadron codes were allocated but there is no evidence of them being carried).
In the course of action he received injuries and died from his wounds, aged 23. He is buried in grave 11. E. 4. at Tripoli War Cemetery, Mansura district of Tripoli, Libya.

During the North African campaign, Tripoli was an important Axis base until taken by Montgomery's forces on 23rd. January 1943. It then became a hospital centre, and the burials in the war cemetery were almost entirely from the hospitals, which included Nos. 2, 48 and 133 General Hospitals from March 1943, and No. 89 General Hospital from April 1944.
Tripoli War Cemetery contains 1,369 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 133 of them unidentified, 19 non Commonwealth burials and 7 non world war service burials.


                          
   

Taken in: UK / England / South Norfolk District / Sisland (show map)

Taken on: February 12, 2022

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Edward William C Eaglen

1269479 Sgt Pilot Edward Eaglen

RAFVR

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Hurricane Mk IIB, BE 397

Tripoli War Cemetery

CWGC

Second World War

2nd World War

World War 2

World War Two

WW 2

North Africa Campaign

Western Desert

St Mary's, Sisland

Sisland

Norfolk

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Camera:	Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	29.4mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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