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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

229057

Pilot Officer Keith Harris

RAF 115

from:Bristol

(d.19th January 1943)

My uncle P.O. Keith Harris (who I never met) went missing in action on a bombing raid to Berlin January 1943. Neither his aircraft or any crew were found. As of January 2016 it has still not been found. Is there any information available about his crew and what the mission was on?




Additional Information:

Took off from Witchford 0029 - target Berlin, Germany. Lost without trace. Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

Berlin: 677 aircraft - 432 Lancasters, 241 Halifaxes, 4 Mosquitos.

Part of the German fighter force was drawn up by the early diversions and the bomber approach route over Northern Denmark proved too distant for some of the other German fighters. The German controller was, however, able to concentrate his fighters over the target and many aircraft were shot down there. The cloud over Berlin was broken and some ground-marking was possible but the Bomber Command claim that this was the most concentrated attack of this period is not quite fully confirmed by German records. The western and southern districts were hit but so too were 77 places outside the city. Damage was inflicted to destroy the houses of 180.000 people.

46 aircraft - 26 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters - lost, 6.8 per cent of the force. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944 - * 3 Group Bomber Command, Book by Chris Ward.

ORB. 29th January, 1944. 15 aircraft were detailed to attack BERLIN, but 6 failed to take off. 9 aircraft took off between 00.14 hours & 00.29 hours. 2 failed to return from operations. Lancaster Mk II LL649 A4-G, 6 KIA, 1 POW. 2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie (J.D.S.687 - Captain F/L. H. G. HICKS) due to unserviceable of port outer engine and (F.L.L.622 - Captain F/L. G. Y. MACKIE, DSO) due to severe icing and inability of aircraft to climb respectively and both returned to base early one after jettisoning his 4,000 lb H.C., but bringing back his incendiaries and the other after jettisoning his load live. The remaining 5 aircraft identified the target by means of red & green markers on which they dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 20,000 feet & 21,000 feet. A good reflection on the clouds (10/10) indicated many fires. Two explosions were observed at 03.16 hours & 04.00 hours. Photographs were attempted. Considered a good attack. 08.50. 7 aircraft had returned safely to base after operations.

The picture was taken by Edmands in August of 1943. There were seven crew listed missing on January 29th, but only six appear in the picture. F/L Keith Harris - Knowle Park, Bristol, England; F/O John Horn - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; F/S Albert J. Chappel -Southorpe, England; F/O James Francis Harrigan, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada; P/O John King, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Sgt. Thomas F McLean, Falkirk, Scotland; Sgt. Derek Roy Edmands, Smothwick, Staffs. England. Info and photo by Derek Roy Edmands sister from Birmingham, England. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Harris Keith - Pilot F/L - Service No 133607 Age: 20 RAFVR Son of George Austin Harris and Rosina Florence Harris, of Knowle, Bristol. Runnymede Memorial - panel 202 Source: CWGC - Photo via Diane Thompson nee Harris, Australia, Thanks Diane.

Edmands Derek Roy - FE Sgt - Service No 1677608 RAFVR Son of Runnymede Memorial - panel 228 Source: CWGC.

Horn John - Nav F/O - Service No J21184 Age: 21 RCAF Son of John and Isabella Horn, of Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. Runnymede Memorial - panel 246 Source: CWGC - photo: Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Chappel Albert James Aidan - WOP F/S - Service No 1097462 Age: 25 RAFVR Son of Alice Chappel and stepson of J. P. Sanderson, of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Runnymede Memorial - panel 216 Source: CWGC.

Harrigan James Francis - BA F/O - Service No J21023 Age: 22 RCAF Son of Patrick and Agnes Harrigan, of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Runnymede Memorial - panel 246 Source: CWGC - info and photo Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Diane



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