HughAHalliday
29th April 2022, 19:04
Joseph Clifford HARRIS-WARD, Pilot Officer (158284) – No. 51 Squadron – Distinguished Flying Cross – awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 February 1944. No citation. Spink auction catalogue, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates gives the following recommendation:
‘Pilot Officer Harris-Ward has carried out 24 Operational Sorties as a Flight Engineer since his posting to the Squadron in May 1943.
“Throughout these sorties, he has carried out his duties in a most efficient spirit in action which inspires confidence and as a member of an Operational Crew, his keenness and ability is outstanding.”
Remarks by Station Commander: ‘This officer has always shown a particular desire to learn everything possible about his aircraft so that whatever the emergency or difficulty that might be encountered, he would be ready to overcome it. His highly commendable ideals and energetic enthusiasm contributed much to the success of his crew’.
M.I.D. London Gazette 11.6.1942 Corporal J.C. Harris-Ward R.A.F.
Squadron Leader Joseph Clifford Harris-Ward, DFC., born Cockermouth, Cumbria; educated at Cockermouth Secondary School before joining the R.A. F. School at Halton, aged 16; posted as Flight Engineer to 51 Squadron (Halifaxes), Snaith, Yorkshire, 21.4.1943; flew in 24 operational sorties with the Squadron including: Duisberg; Dortmund; Wuppertal (2); Mulheim; Gelsenkirchen; Cologne; Aachen; Montbellard; Hamburg (3); Essen; Remscheid; Nuremberg (2); Milan; Peenemunde, 17.8.1943, the moonlight raid on the V-2 Rocket research facility, controlled by Group Captain J.H. Searby; Hanover (2); Mannheim and Kassel; Pilot Officer 25.8.1943; Flying Officer 24.10.1946; Flight Lieutenant 112.1948.
‘Pilot Officer Harris-Ward has carried out 24 Operational Sorties as a Flight Engineer since his posting to the Squadron in May 1943.
“Throughout these sorties, he has carried out his duties in a most efficient spirit in action which inspires confidence and as a member of an Operational Crew, his keenness and ability is outstanding.”
Remarks by Station Commander: ‘This officer has always shown a particular desire to learn everything possible about his aircraft so that whatever the emergency or difficulty that might be encountered, he would be ready to overcome it. His highly commendable ideals and energetic enthusiasm contributed much to the success of his crew’.
M.I.D. London Gazette 11.6.1942 Corporal J.C. Harris-Ward R.A.F.
Squadron Leader Joseph Clifford Harris-Ward, DFC., born Cockermouth, Cumbria; educated at Cockermouth Secondary School before joining the R.A. F. School at Halton, aged 16; posted as Flight Engineer to 51 Squadron (Halifaxes), Snaith, Yorkshire, 21.4.1943; flew in 24 operational sorties with the Squadron including: Duisberg; Dortmund; Wuppertal (2); Mulheim; Gelsenkirchen; Cologne; Aachen; Montbellard; Hamburg (3); Essen; Remscheid; Nuremberg (2); Milan; Peenemunde, 17.8.1943, the moonlight raid on the V-2 Rocket research facility, controlled by Group Captain J.H. Searby; Hanover (2); Mannheim and Kassel; Pilot Officer 25.8.1943; Flying Officer 24.10.1946; Flight Lieutenant 112.1948.