Frederick E. Delhagen was born in 1922 in Bergen County, New Jersey. He was the son of Henry Delhagen and Clara Schuyler Delhagen. He graduated from Ramsey High School in 1940 and subsequently attended the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics in Newark, New Jersey, where he pursued a degree in aeronautical engineering. He also worked for the Wright Aeronautical Company in New Jersey. Approximately four months before completing his two-year engineering program, he was drafted into the United States Army. In November 1942, he began basic training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he initially trained with an anti-aircraft artillery unit. He later volunteered for specialized aviation training and graduated from gunnery school at Buckley Field, Colorado, on May 1, 1943. Following his graduation, he was assigned to Fort Myers, Florida, where he completed a nine-week aerial gunnery course before undergoing further training in New Mexico. On February 18, 1944, Delhagen departed for overseas duty, traveling through Florida, Brazil, and North Africa before reaching England. He served in the 784th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-24H #41-29364, nicknamed ''Stardust'', during World War II.

On March 27, 1944, B-24H Liberator Stardust, piloted by Robert J. Mogford, was lost in a midair collision while assembling into formation over Norfolk, England. The accident occurred just five days after the 466th Bomb Group began combat operations from RAF Attlebridge on March 22, 1944. That morning, the group had departed on an Eighth Air Force bombing mission targeting German-occupied airfields in southwestern France, including Biarritz. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft were assembling into formation, Stardust collided with another B-24H Liberator, serial number 42-52562, piloted by Prosper F. Pinto. Both aircraft were reportedly around tenth in the takeoff sequence and had reached an assembly area approximately ten miles from the airfield when the collision occurred. Poor visibility may have contributed to the accident, although the exact circumstances remain uncertain. Both Liberators were destroyed, with Stardust crashing near Gressenhall, Norfolk, and Pinto's aircraft coming down near North Hoe Green. All twenty crew members aboard the two bombers were killed in the accident.

Sgt Delhagen is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.historyofwar.org, culturepics.org, weremember.abmc.gov