John Lange Harrison - MIA After Attacking a U-Boat in the North Sea
Information provided by Rob Bell, nephew of John Harrison.
Rank: Flying Officer
Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
162nd Squadron
Born: June 12th, 1922 in Winnipeg, MB
Death: June 13, 1944
Cause: After attacking a U-boat in the North Sea, his plane was reported missing and his body was never recovered.
His Life: John Harrison attended Earl Grey and Kelvin High Schools. He was employed by the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Vancouver from July 10th, 1939, until he enlisted in the RCAF in March, 1942 from Dunbar Street (Vancouver).
Harrison graduated to Pilot Officer in February, 1943, and Flying Officer in 1944. He trained at Edmonton and Calgary, Alta., and Rivers and Paulson, Man. He was posted to Patricia Bay, B.C.; moved to Halifax, NS; and later to Goose Bay, Labrador, in January, 1944. He went overseas to base in Iceland in March, 1944, where he was on air patrol duties between Iceland and Wick, Scotland.
Harrison was reported missing after air operations on June 13th, 1944, when the aircraft on which he was Navigator crashed into the North Sea after attacking an enemy submarine. (On the previous day it had destroyed another U-boat.) The Group Captain of the R.A.F. Station at Reykjavik, Iceland, wrote: "They were out U-boat hunting. A wireless message was received from which it was deduced that they were about to carry out an attack, and after that no more was heard." It was later reported by the only Survivor of the crew, who was rescued and taken prisoner by a Norwegian fishing vessel manned by German civilians, that three lost their lives when their aircraft crashed and that the other five managed to reach a dinghy. Four died of exposure, including Flying Officer Harrison on the fifth day. Flying Officer Harrison's name is on the Honour Roll of 162 Squadron, R.C.A.F., at Reykjavik.
He left behind his mother, Vora I. Harrison and a sister Barbara F. Bell (nee Harrison)
