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Raymond Hilary Harries |
Name : Raymond Hilary Harries Died : 14th May 1950 Air Victories : 20.00 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Bars |
Joining the RAFVR in September 1939, after training Harries was posted to No. 43 Squadron at Drem in Scotland. He was then posted on 8 July 1941 to 52 OTU at Debden as an instructor. In February 1942 he joined No. 131 Squadron RAF, based at Llanbedr as a flight commander, and claimed his first kill, a Junkers Ju 88, soon after. He served with the unit until December 1942, when he became CO of 91 Squadron, and in April 1943 received the new Mark XII Spitfire and were based at Hawkinge. Harries was ultimately the most successful pilot to fly the Rolls-Royce Griffon powered Supermarine Spitfire, scoring 11 kills in the type, including a brace of Focke-Wulf Fw 190s on 25 May 1943. Flying a Spitfire XII, Harries intercepted the Fw 190s from SKG 10: I was leading Blue Section on a defensive patrol. I had just returned to base, with my No 2, had just landed when the scramble signal was given from the watch office. We both immediately took off again, and saw enemy aircraft approaching Folkestone. I sighted one lone Fw 190 at sea level returning to France. I came in from his starboard side, delivering a three-second burst at 250 yards. The enemy aircraft hit the sea tail first, split in two, and sank immediately. The Fw 190 was thought to be Fw 190A-5 Wrk Nr 2511 of 6./SKG 10, flown by Oberleutnant Josef Keller. I then spotted another Fw 190 to starboard. I flew straight over the top of it in order to identify it in the failing light. The enemy aircraft pulled his nose up and gave me a quick squirt. I pulled straight up to about 1000ft, and turning to port, dived right onto his tail, opening fire from 300 yards and closing to 150 yards. I fired a four-second burst, seeing strikes and flames all over the enemy aircraft. The enemy aircraft gradually lost height, with smoke and flames coming from it, skimmed for some distance along the surface of the water and then sank. I orbited around taking cine gun snaps of the oil patch and pieces of wreckage that were visible. In June the squadron moved to Westhampnett to form a Mk XII fighter wing with No. 41 Squadron. On 18 July 1943 Harries shot down three Bf 109's while flying MB831. In doing so he became the first pilot to reach five kills in the Griffon-engined Spitfire. Harries became Wing Leader in August 1943, and by November, had been awarded a total of three DFCs and a DSO. In early 1944 Harries went to the United States, to lecture on fighter tactics, only to return and become Wing Leader of 135 Wing, 2nd TAF, in the spring of 1944. On 22 September 1943 Harries claimed one Fw 190 shot down and another as a probable. The Westhampnett Wing were the highest scoring Wing in Fighter Command for the month of September, claiming 27 kills. On 20 October 1944 Harries shot down a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs near Rouen, his last kills in the type. In January 1945 he underwent a conversion course on the Hawker Tempest, prior to the wing being re-equipped, but was posted then to 84 Group as Wing Commander/Training. After the war he was awarded a bar to the DSO, and served as CO No. 92 Squadron RAF in 1949. On 14 May 1950 he died while flying a 92 Squadron Gloster Meteor F4 when it ran out of fuel and crashed near Sheffield, Yorkshire. His funeral was held at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 18 May 1950. |
COMBAT REPORTS |
September 11th, 1942 DFC Citation: "This officer, who has completed numerous sorties, is an excellent flight commander. He has spared no effort in the training of his pilots, amongst whom he has fostered a fine teamspirit. He has destroyed 1 and assisted in the destruction of 2 more enemy aircraft." Details: Published in The London Gazette dated 11th September 1942. May 25th, 1943 DFC Citation: "This officer is a highly efficient squadron commander whose great keenness and energetic leadership have set a worthy example. In recent operations he has destroyed 3 enemy aircraft, shared in the destruction of another and damaged 3 more." Details: Second award received as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC. Published in The London Gazette dated 25th May 1943. September 7th, 1943 DFC Citation: "Since being awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Squadron Leader Harries has destroyed a further 4 enemy aircraft. In May 1943, he led the squadron in an engagement against 12 enemy fighters. In the combat 5 enemy aircraft were shot down, 2 of them by Squadron Leader Harries. During an engagement in July 1943, he destroyed 2 and damaged another enemy aircraft. This officer is a fine leader and a skilful and tenacious fighter." Details: Third award received as a bar for on the ribbon of his first DFC. Published in The London Gazette dated 7th September 1943. ovember 9th, 1943 DSO Citation: "This officer is an exceptionally skilful, courageous and determined fighter. Within the past weeks he has led his fighter force on various sorties during which 27 enemy aircraft have been shot down, 3 of them by his own guns. These successes pay an excellent tribute to this officer's inspiring leadership and great tactical ability. Wing Commander Harries has destroyed at least 15 enemy aircraft." Details: Published in The London Gazette dated 9th November 1943. July 24th, 1945 DSO Citation: "This officer has been engaged in operationallying since 1940 and has destroyed at least 20 enemy aircraft. He has been operations wing commander of his wing throughout the strenuous period which followed the invasion of Normandy. During this time Wing Cdr. Harries took part in numerous long escort sorties and in bombing and close support missions. Since the award of the D.S.O., he has destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged others. Under all circumstances, in the face of adverse weather and heavy enemy opposition, he has displayed outstanding leadership and gallantry" Details: Received as a Bar for on the ribbon of his first DSO. Published in The London Gazette dated 24th July 1945. |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Squadron | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
flight commander | February 1942 | unknown | In February 1942 No. 131 Squadron RAF, based at Llanbedr as a flight commander, and claimed his first kill, a Junkers Ju 88, | ||||
unknown | unknown | 04th May 1950 | 4 May 1950 he died while flying a 92 Squadron Gloster Meteor F4 when it ran out of fuel and crashed near Sheffield, Yorkshire Killed in Action |
Photos Submitted Through Our Directory |
Known Individual Aircraft : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
16/04/1943 | no information | Griffon III | High Post |
Aircraft for : Raymond Hilary Harries | ||
A list of all aircraft associated with Raymond Hilary Harries. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
Aircraft | Info | |
Meteor
Manufacturer : Gloster Production Began : 1944 Number Built : 3947 | Meteor The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. Designed by George Carter, and built by the Gloster Aircraft Company, Armstrong-Whitworth, the Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Gloster Meteor was not an aerodynamically advanced aircraft but the Gloster design team succeeded in producing an effective jet fighter that served the RAF and other air forces for decades. Meteors saw action with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the Korean War and other air forces used the Meteor. The Royal Danish Air Force, The Belgian Air Force and Isreali Air Force kept the Meteor in service until the early 1970's. A Total of 3947 meteors were built and two Meteors, WL419 and WA638, remain in service with the Martin-Baker company as ejection seat testbeds. | |
Spitfire
Manufacturer : Supermarine Production Began : 1936 Retired : 1948 Number Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. |
Squadrons for : Raymond Hilary Harries | ||
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Raymond Hilary Harries. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
Squadron | Info | |
No.131 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 15th March 1918 Fate : Disbanded 31st December 1945 County of Kent Invicta - Unconquered | No.131 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.91 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 31st January 1947 Nigeria We seek alone | No.91 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.92 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st September 1917 Fate : Disbanded 1st October 1994 East India Aut pugna aut morere - Either fight or die | No.92 Sqn RAF 92 Squadron was formed in the First World War, as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, on 1st September 1917. It flew Pups, Spads and SE5s during the war, becoming an RAF squadron on the formation of the RAF on 1st April 1918, before being disbanded on 7th August 1919. On the outbreak of hostilities of World War Two, 92 Sqn reformed on 10th October 1939, flying Blenheims before converting to Spitfires. It transferred to North Africa, and for some time flew as part of 244 Wing RAF. After the war, the squadron was disbanded on 30th December 1946. On 31st January 1947, the former 91 Squadron was redesignated 92 Squadron, flying the Meteor before re-equipping with the Sabre and then the Hunter. While flying the Hunter in 1960, the squadron was designated as the RAF's aerobatic squadron, with the name Blue Diamonds, a name the squadron carried on after tranferring to the Lightning. The squadron then re-equipped with Phantoms, before being disbanded on 1st July 1991. It was reformed from a rserve squadron on 23rd September 1992, and became No.92 (Reserve) Squadron, flying the Hawk aircraft before being disbanded once more on 1st October 1994. |
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