David Edmund HARRIS (1923-

Name:	HARRIS, David Edmund, DFC
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Flying Officer
Service No.:	J/17400
Date of Birth:	5 April 1923 - Owen Sound, ON

HARRIS, F/O David Edmund (J17400) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.434 Squadron - Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 March 1945 and AFRO 721/45 dated 27 April 1945. Born in Owen Sound, 5 April 1923; home in Collingwood, Ontario. Waiter prior to enlistment. Enlisted in Toronto, 9 July 1941 and posted to No.4 Manning Depot. To No.1 WS, 20 August 1941; to No.13 SFTS, 10 September 1941 (guard duty); to No.3 ITS, 25 September 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 7 November 1941 but not posted to No.8 AOS until 20 November 1941; to No.9 BGS on 28 February 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 11 April 1942; posted that date to No.2 ANS; graduated 11 May 1942. To "Y" Depot, 12 May 1942. To RAF overseas, 31 May 1942. Commissioned 5 April 1943. Repatriated 18 June 1945. To No.8 OTU, 19 June 1945. To Greenwood, 30 July 1945. To Trenton, 4 January 1946. To Release Centre, 29 April 1946. Retired 4 May 1946. No citation other than "completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." DHist file 181.009 D.3080 (RG.24 Vol.20636) has recommendation (undated) when he had flown 47 sorties (245 hours 25 minutes). First tour had been 7 February 1943 to 29 May 1944 (25 sorties) with many adventures; attack on Mannheim, 16 April 1943 (six hours), described as "Photo 400 yards from aiming point. Low level attack - shot up one train and station, one factory." Next sortie was 21 April 1943 (Rostock, seven hours 35 minutes) - "Low level attack - shot up by fighter - mid-upper gunner hit". Second tour was 7 March to 25 October 1944.

Flying Officer Harris has completed his second tour of operations totaling forty-seven operational sorties, twenty-eight of which were attacks against heavily defended major German targets [such] as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Nuremburg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. This officer's skill, courage and devotion to duty as a Navigator has set an example to all members of the squadron. His navigation has always been accurate and painstaking and he has set a high example of efficiency while on the ground and in the air.

SOURCE: Air Force Association of Canada website & Hugh Halliday (August 10, 2010).