Lt M.J.J. ‘Jerry’ Harris RNVR

[Larry]

I am after any details of the service career in the FAA for Lt M.J.J. ‘Jerry’ Harris RNVR, who had been with 749 NAS and later CO of 710 Sqn NAS. Harris also spent time serving with the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit at Christchurch (then in Hampshire) as a test pilot circa 1943-44. Where else did he serve?

After D-Day on 5th July 1944 he managed to persuade someone in the 405th FG USAAF to allow him to fly a P-47D on a mission over Normandy. He got lost and landed for fuel before returning to Christchurch, where some of the 405th remained after 29th June when a large contingent relocated to A-8.

Strangely, for a unofficial trip, Lt Harris is actually listed for 5th July 1944, in the operations records for the 511th FS, as a pilot in Blue Flight under Field Order No.434C which stated ‘Had Lt. Harris with us who became lost and landed on beach on Cherbourg Peninsula. Returned safely’.