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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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145
12th August 1940 145 Squadron Hurricane I R4180 P/O. Harrison

Operation: Patrol

Date: 12th August 1940 (Monday)

Unit: No. 145 Squadron (motto: Diu noctuque pugnamus - 'We fight by day and night'). 11 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: R4180

Code: SO-?

Base: RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. John Howard Harrison 76577 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a tremendously busy day for the RAF defending many targets from the huge Luftwaffe onslaught.

No sooner had they landed and refuelled the squadron took off again on a patrol over the channel.

During this day it was reported that 38 Luftwaffe aircraft were shot down with the loss of 27 RAF aircraft.

P/O. Harrison was lost at 12:30 hrs south of the Isle of Wight.

Two others from the squadron also lost: 36 year old, Fl/Lt. Wilhelm Pankratz 76662 flying Hurricane I R4176 and 23 year old, Sgt. Josef Kwiecinski 780691 flying Hurricane I P3391.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. John Howard Harrison. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 8. Born on the 10th November 1917 at Mitcham, Surrey. Enlisted in 1937 trained at 13 E&RFTS at White Waltham. Awarded his 'A' flying licence on the 26th June 1939. Joined 145 squadron on the 31st July 1940. Son of Dr. Arthur William Harrison, M.D (died 18th January 1932 age 65)., and Lilian Jane Harrison (nee Hackett), died 08th August 1980 age 88) of 91 Devonshire Road, Collier's Wood, Merton, London, England. Both parents buried at St. Peter and St. Paul's Churchyard, Church Roadm, Mitcham. His step brother (mother being Laura Jane Harrison, nee Osborne died in 1908, age just 38) John William Hyde Harrison (‘N’ Company, 4th Battalion - Special Brigade, Royal Engineers) died of gas poisoning age 18 on the 13th November 1916 at the No. 43 Casualty Clearing Station, Warlencourt, France.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:

KTY 03-06-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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