231855 Flt.Sgt. Leslie Harris Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 76 Squadron from:25 Eastwood Road, Sittingbourne, Kent (d.29th June 1943) Although already in a Reserved Occupation, my father volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was posted to South Africa to undergo training as an Observer. He gained his Observer Brevet in 1942, returning to England that same year.
With a 10 O.T.U. detachment flying Whitley Mark 5s out of St Eval, he helped to track and bomb U-Boats. Apparently, one took offence at this treatment, after being caught on the surface, and promptly fired a shell, blowing a hole in the starboard wing of their machine. Later, still with 10 OTU, returning from a sweep, their aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilot instructed the crew to take to their parachutes, thus saving their lives. Bravely staying at the controls the pilot lost his life in the crash. Suffering a fractured ankle and gaining his Caterpillar Badge from the Irving Parachute Company, my father spent some time in hospital before being transferred to 1658 HCU at Riccall in Yorkshire, converting to the Halifax bomber.
From there he was posted to No. 76 Squadron then at Holme-upon-Spalding Moor. On the evening of the 28th June together with his crew, in Halifax Mark 5 MP-R DK137 took off for Cologne. The aircraft failed to return, having been shot down by a night fighter with the loss of the entire crew.
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