Harrison, Gordon Rudolph
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Gordon Rudolph |
Surname | Harrison |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Harrison and Jennie Harrison (née Dexter), of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. Husband of Lola Mae Harrison (née Kennedy), whom he married on 27 February 1943 at Brooklyn, Nova Scotia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR980 |
Markings | NP-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 182. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 178 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/76374 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Squadron Motto | Strength in unity |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Gordon was born at St. John, New Brunswick on 12 May 1921. His father (who had died in 1921) was born at Bedford, Nova Scotia, and his mother was born at Brooklyn, Queens County, Nova Scotia. His mother re-married a Howard Jaycox and he had two half sisters, Lottie and Ruth. The schools he attended were Brooklyn Public 1927-1935 and continued 1935-1938. He enjoyed playing hockey and baseball and also swimming. For a short while during July-August 1939 Gordon worked as a labourer for the Mersey Paper Co. and then enlisted on 19 December 1940. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from New York on 9 March 1943, arriving at 3PRC on 13 March 1943. He then went to 22 OTU 30 March 1943, 1658 CU on 7 June 1943 and 158 Squadron on 10 August 1943. Sadly just two weeks later on 24 August 1943, Gordon was to lose his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/39 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/38 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed onto marshy ground east of Gollin, as a result of which only two bodies are recovered, the others being commemorated on the Runnymede memorial |