212854 Sgt Harnett Richard Richardson Royal Air Force 61 Squadron from:Hartlepool (d.17th Dec 1940) Harnett Richard Richardson (known as Dick) son of Harnett Richardson (died as a result of injuries sustained in WW1)and Eleanor (Nellie) Richardson all from Hartlepool. Eleanor was later re-married to George Robert (Bob) Smith and had two daughters Gladys (Pi) and Jean Smith who were half sisters of Dick.
Dick joined the Royal Air Force at 17/18 yrs and became Sgt 526112 in Bomber Command Squadron 61, flying Hampdens as an Observer (Navigator) in WW2 out of Hemswell (Harpswell Aerodrome), Lincoln.
At the age of 22 yrs he married Lillian Greenfields, who was aged 17/ 18yrs from Lincoln, but was tragically killed in action just two weeks later.
He and his crew; Sgt G.E Cowan DFM, Sgt A.J.P Casey and P/O E Reeves took off from Hemswell in Hampden X3128 on December 16th 1940, on an Operational Flight over Mannheim in Germany, but failed to return on December 17th.
The only correspondence Dick's mother ever received about her son was a telegram from his wife to say he and his colleagues had been lost without a trace and were missing presumed killed in action. Nothing more was ever heard. The Crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing and also in Lincoln Cathedral.
Some years ago, Jean had contact with Harry Moyles, author of 'The Hampden File' within which there is reference to Dick's last operational mission.
If anyone has any memory or knowledge of Dick, his wife Lillian, his co-colleagues or indeed what happened on that fateful mission, please contact his remaining sister.
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