Thomas Falcon Hazell & Bar was a fighter pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, and later, the Royal Air Force during the First World War. Hazell scored 43 victories in 1917–18 making him the fifth most successful British "flying ace" of 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.
Upon the outbreak of the war in August 1914, Hazell volunteered for service as a private with the South Irish Horse. On 10 October he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. As part of the 49th Brigade in the 16th Division, the 7th Inniskillings were initially based at Tipperary, where Hazell was promoted to lieutenant on 4 June 1915. His regiment moved to Finner Camp in August 1915, and moved to Woking in England in September. The regiment landed in France in February 1916. Soon after Hazell transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. In April and May he was assigned to No. 5 Reserve Squadron, based at Castle Bromwich. He was appointed a flying officer on 5 June, and survived a severe crash before completing his training, and eventually joined No. 1 Squadron on the Western Front. Flying Nieuport 17 Scouts, he shot down 20 enemy aircraft between March and August 1917, being appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain on 25 May, and was awarded the Military Cross on 26 July. His citation read: Between 25 May and 25 June 1918 he served as an instructor at the Central Flying School, with the acting rank of major. He then took command of "A" Flight, No. 24 Squadron, flying the S.E.5a. On 22 August 1918, Hazell shot down an observation balloon despite its escort of seven Fokker D.VIIs. 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. His claims tally consisted of one captured enemy aircraft; ten enemy observation balloons destroyed ; 18 enemy aircraft destroyed ; and fourteen aircraft driven down 'out of control'. Hazell was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and both were gazetted on 2 November 1918. His citations read: On 22 October he was appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major, taking command of No. 203 Squadron, flying Sopwith Camels, remaining there until 2 April 1919. On 8 February 1919 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His citation read:
Post-war career
On 1 August 1919 Hazell was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force as a captain, returning to No. 24 Squadron. In June 1920 he took part in the RAF's Aerial Pageant at Hendon, in which he shot down a kite balloon from a Sopwith Snipe. He was promoted from flight lieutenant to squadron leader on 30 June 1922, and commanded No. 55 Squadron, and briefly No. 45 Squadron, as part of Iraq Command. On 22 July 1923 he was posted to the RAF Depot, on his return to the Home Establishment. On 1 December 1923 he was appointed to command of No. 111 Squadron, based at Duxford. On 11 June 1927 he returned to the RAF Depot at Uxbridge, and on 20 July was placed on the retired list at his own request.
In 1944, at the age of 52, Hazell became the commander of "D" Company, 24th Battalion, South Staffordshire Home Guard during the later part of the Second World War. Hazell died in Newport, County Mayo, Ireland, on 4 September 1946, and is buried at the Burrishoole Church of Ireland Cemetery there. In 2014 his grave, which had been largely forgotten and neglected, was restored, repaired, and re-dedicated in a ceremony which was held on 4 August 2014, the 100th anniversary of the declaration of the First World War.
