LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John Chaster HARRIS
Service No: 419647
Born: Beeac VIC, 17 September 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 September 1942
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-402), 26 June 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Lae War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George William Dupe Harris and Hilda May Harris, of Geelong, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Geelong VIC
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
While serving with No. 86 Squadron, Flying Officer Harris was flying No. 2 to Flying Officer James Caston Donnan (412120) who was killed on air operations on 20 November 1943.
On 26 June 1944, Kittyhawk A29-402 flown by Flying Officer Harris was returning from an offensive patrol, when at 1730 hours the engine cut as the aircraft was preparing to land. During the forced landing, the aircraft undershot, crashed and burst into flames killing Flying Officer Harris.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/17/648; A9845, 156