Kay, Harry Died

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Personal Information

Rank Sgt
Forename(s) Harry
Surname Kay
Gender M
Age 28
Decorations DFM
Date of Death 14-02-1943
Next of Kin Son of Kaplin and Dora Kay.
KAY H 551

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Handley Page Halifax II
Serial Number DT694
Markings NP-N

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country Netherlands
Burial/Memorial Place Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen
Grave Reference Coll. grave 12. E. 2-5.
Epitaph HE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE. GOD REST HIS SOUL

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 192
KAY H 551

Location

Row -
Panel 192
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 192

Enlistment Information

Service Number 1375551
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 4
Squadron 158
Squadron Motto Strength in unity
Trade Navigator
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location Scweibergerbos, Mechelen, Limburg Province
Country the Netherlands
Memorial Type Stone cross, inscribed marble tablet & stencilled composite information panel
Memorial Text Het herdenkingsmonument Soekerknip ligt verscholen op een helling in het bos. Er loopt geen wandelpad naartoe waardoor het moeilijk bereikbaar is. Het toestel, een Handley Page Halifax incasseerde boven Duitsland, net over de grens, een voltreffer van een Messerschmitt en stortte neer in het bos waar u nu langs loopt.
Translation "The memorial monument Soekerknip is hidden on a slope in the forest. There is no footpath leading to it, which makes it difficult to reach. The plane, a Handley Page Halifax (DT694 of 158 Sqn RAF), took a direct hit from a Messerschmitt over Germany and crashed into the forest "
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
Location Adjacent to former airfield, Lissett, East Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Metal Sculpture, Wind Turbines & Info Board
Memorial Text 12 wind turbines named after Halifax Bombers of 158 Sqn and groundcrew who were killed on 2nd July 1943
Location Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Memorial Gardens, Propeller, Inscribed Marble Tablets
Memorial Text In everlasting homage to the courage of those who have found their winged victory through the skies of Yorkshire
Location Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Propeller Unit & Inscribed Marble Tablets
Memorial Text They made the supreme sacrifice so that you & I may go in peace with freedom. 4 Group 1939 - 1945.
Location Heslington Hall, York, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text Heslington Hall 1941 - 1945, 4 Gp Headquarters Bomber Command. In remembrance of those Air & Ground personnel who made the supreme sacrifice that we all may walk in peace with freedom

Miscellaneous Information

Citation, London Gazette, 12 January 1943: "Distinguished Flying Cross. Squadron Leader William FLETCHER, D F M (44063), No 158 Squadron. Distinguished Flying Medal 540757 Sergeant Ralph LEWIS, No 158 Squadron, 1375551 Sergeant Harry KAY, No 158 Squadron. In December, 1942, Squadron Leader Fletcher and Sergeants Lewis and Kay were captain, flight engineer and navigator of a heavy bomber detailed to attack Turin. While over the target area one of the starboard engines failed. Shortly after the bombs had been released all blind flying instruments failed and the aircraft stalled and fell into a spin. Squadron Leader Fletcher skilfully regained control, but it was found impossible to climb over the Alps. Despite bad weather and poor visibility Sergeant Kay navigated the aircraft on another course round the Alps. Sergeant Lewis's cool and skilful manipulation of the petrol consumption completed the team work which resulted in the safe return of the aircraft, after flying some 900 miles with 1 of its engines disabled. These members of aircraft crew set a grand example of grim determination to triumph over tremendous difficulties".

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/27
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/27

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.

Name Outcome
Bousfield J H (Sgt) Died
Fletcher W (S/L) Died
Howe F C (Sgt) Died
Miller G H (P/O) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 14-02-1943
End Date 15-02-1943
Takeoff Station Rufforth
Day/Night Raid Night (77% moon)
Operation Cologne. 243 aircraft, 9 lost (3.7%). PFF used H2S to mark the target with sky-markers. Limited success.
Reason for Aircraft Loss Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed ESE of Maastricht, Holland
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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.