Major Howard Redmayne Harker MC (12 May 1891 – 27 February 1919) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]
Howard Redmayne Harker | |
---|---|
Born | Prestwich, Lancashire, England | 12 May 1891
Died | 27 February 1919 Tidworth Barracks Hospital, Hampshire, England | (aged 27)
Buried | Southern Cemetery, Manchester, Lancashire 53°25′45″N 2°15′32″W / 53.42917°N 2.25889°W |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1916–1919 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | No. 5 Reserve Squadron No. 57 Squadron RFC No. 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping |
Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front |
Awards | Military Cross |
Howard Harker was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, the son of the architect John Dent Harker (1860–1933). He attended the Lawrence House School in St. Annes-on-Sea, and the Rossall School in Fleetwood, before graduating from Manchester University.[2][3]
From 1913, Harker was employed at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough, Hampshire.[1] In February 1915 he made a memorable arrival at Hendon Aerodrome in a new B.E.2c biplane flown by Frank Goodden, who treated the assembled crowd to an impromptu display of aerial acrobatics before landing.[4]
Harker was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 15 April 1916.[5] He was posted to No. 5 Reserve Squadron from 2 May[6] until the day after receiving the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2945, following his flight in a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School at Birmingham on 18 May.[1] He was appointed a flying officer on 22 June, and confirmed in his rank on 11 July.[7]
Harker was posted No. 57 Squadron, primarily a bomber and reconnaissance unit, in France. He gained his first victory, while flying a F.E.2d on 24 March 1917, by driving down 'out of control' an Albatros D.II east of Lens.[1] He was appointed a flight commander with the rank of acting-captain on 6 April.[8] In May his squadron was re-equipped with the DH.4, in which on 18 June he destroyed an Albatros D.III south of Houthulst.[1] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 1 July 1917.[9] His remaining three victories were against Albatros D.Vs; on 17 July over Roulers, on 28 July over Ingelmunster, and on 21 August over Ledeghem–Menin.[1]
On 26 September 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross,[10] which was gazetted on 8 January 1918. His citation read:
Harker was appointed an acting-major on 1 October 1918.[12] His final posting was to the No. 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping at RAF Andover, Wiltshire.
Harker died from pneumonia on 27 February 1919 at the Officers' Military Hospital at Tidworth,[13] and is buried in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester.[14][15]