Francis Harris "Air Accident"

Flight Lieutenant Francis Beach Harris

RAF

Service Number 39231

Died August 30, 1940

Flight Lieutenant Francis Beach Harris was laid to rest at Lossiemouth Burial Ground in Moray, Scotland, in Grave 1101

Husband of Eileen Harris, son of Ernest and Gwendoline Harris.  Francis lived with his mother and grandparents in Rose Cottage, Totteridge, after his father was killed in the First World War.

Francis Beach Harris served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during the early period of World War II. Records indicate that he was promoted to Flying Officer, effective April 28, 1939, with seniority dating back to March 31, 1939. This promotion came just months before Britain entered World War II, when the RAF was expanding in anticipation of potential conflict.

By August 1940, he had attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant and served with No. 20 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

On August 30, 1940, Flight Lieutenant Harris was involved in an aircraft accident while flying a Miles Magister I, serial number T9754, operating from RAF Lossiemouth. The Miles Magister was a two-seat monoplane trainer aircraft used extensively by the RAF for pilot training during this period.

The accident resulted in serious injuries to both Flight Lieutenant Harris and Corporal D. Johnson, who was also in the aircraft. They were transported to Dr. Gray's Hospital in Elgin, where, unfortunately, Harris succumbed to his injuries. The official cause of death was recorded as "fractured skull, cerebral haemorrhage (accident)".

The incident is documented in the AIR81/2890 file at The National Archives in the United Kingdom. This file is part of the Air Ministry's P4 (Cas) Files collection, which contains detailed records relating to casualties suffered during air operations and aircraft accidents between 1939 and 1945.