Morrissy, Harry
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Harry |
Surname | Morrissy |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 03-12-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Patrick Morrissy and Sarah Morrissy (née Brannaghan), of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, USA. Husband of Dorothy Edythe Morrissy (née Salem) -marriage 10 December 1941. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W7913 |
Markings | DY-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Florennes Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row 1. Grave 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 215 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/100533 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
He had won his DFM only a few weeks earlier |
Harry was born on 2 January 1917 at Cheltenham , Pennsylvania, USA. His father, who was retired by the time of Harry's enlistment, was superintendent of a shovel works and his mother was deceased. Both were born in Ireland. He had a married sister Mrs. Alice White. The schools he attended were the Presentation Catholic. 1924-1932 (General); Cheltenham High 1932-1935 (Vocational); Franklin & Marshall, 1935-1936 (Academic course) and State Teachers College of Millersville, 1936 (Maths and English). Harry worked at S.K.F. Industries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a Bearing Polisher, 1937 -1941. (A Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturer). His sport interests were football, basketball, baseball, wrestling and tennis. |
He enlisted on 25 March 1941, while the United States w3as still neutal. After training Harry arrived in the U.K. on 9 February 1942 then went to 14 (P) AFU 11 April 1942, 19 OTU 17 June 1942, 102 CU 3 September 1942 and 102 Squadron on 29 September 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/808/42 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/808/41 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-12-1942 |
End Date | 03-12-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (31% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 112 aircraft, 6 losses (5.4%). Haze made it difficult for PFF to mark the target. Most bombs fell out of the city, possibly due to a decoy fire. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed south of Rochefort, Belgium |