Thomas M. Harries
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Thomas Montagu Harries was a Scottish World War I flying ace
credited with 11 aerial victories. He was the second scoring ace using the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter; he then also became an ace on the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a.
fighter afire in the sky west of Menin
for his first victory. Three days later, he was credited with the capture of another Albatros, a reconnaissance plane, two miles east of Armentières
. On 3 June, he destroyed another Albatros D.III southeast of Quesnoy
. Then, on 7 July 1917, for his final victories in Strutter A963, he flamed an Albatros D.V
and drove down two others out of control.
He transferred out of 45 Squadron after that. After pilot training, he was posted to 24 Squadron as a SE.5a pilot. On 1 June 1918, he was commissioned as an officer, being appointed a temporary second lieutenant
. On 8 August 1918, he resumed his winning ways, destroying an LVG
reconnaissance plane over Meharicourt
. Two days later, he joined Hilbert Bair
, William C. Lambert
and Wilfred Selwyn in driving down a Fokker D.VII
out of control. On 19 August, he singlehandedly drove another one down out of control over Fresnoy
. On 30 August, he joined Bair and Horace Barton
to share in the destruction of an Albatros recon two-seater, making Harries a double ace.
Harries scored his last victory on 29 October 1918, teaming with Walter H. Longton
and H. V. Evans in the destruction of a German reconnaissance plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics, though interestingly, his award did not mention his aerial victories.
He would remain in service until 20 September 1919, when the Royal Air Force transferred him to the unemployed list. His fate beyond that time is unknown at present.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 11 aerial victories. He was the second scoring ace using the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter; he then also became an ace on the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a.
World War I
Harries was posted to 45 Squadron as an observer on Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter two-seater fighter planes. On 9 May 1917, he was being piloted in Strutter serial number A963 when he used his gunnery skills to set a German Albatros D.IIIAlbatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
fighter afire in the sky west of Menin
Menin
Menin may refer to:*Menin , office in Ancien Régime France*Umberto Menin, Italian artist*The French name for the Belgian town of Menen *Menin, a tumor suppressor associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1....
for his first victory. Three days later, he was credited with the capture of another Albatros, a reconnaissance plane, two miles east of Armentières
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
. On 3 June, he destroyed another Albatros D.III southeast of Quesnoy
Quesnoy
Quesnoy may refer to:*Le Quesnoy, Nord, France*Louvignies-Quesnoy, Nord, France*Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, Nord, France*Le Quesnoy-en-Artois, Pas-de-Calais, France...
. Then, on 7 July 1917, for his final victories in Strutter A963, he flamed an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
and drove down two others out of control.
He transferred out of 45 Squadron after that. After pilot training, he was posted to 24 Squadron as a SE.5a pilot. On 1 June 1918, he was commissioned as an officer, being appointed a temporary second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. On 8 August 1918, he resumed his winning ways, destroying an LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
reconnaissance plane over Meharicourt
Méharicourt
Méharicourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D39 and D131 crossroads, some southeast of Amiens, in a small depression of a plateau, the start of the valley of the river Luce....
. Two days later, he joined Hilbert Bair
Hilbert Bair
Lieutenant Hilbert Leigh Bair began his service career as a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories....
, William C. Lambert
William C. Lambert
William C. Lambert was an American fighter pilot who flew in World War I. He was probably the second-ranking American ace of World War I...
and Wilfred Selwyn in driving down a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
out of control. On 19 August, he singlehandedly drove another one down out of control over Fresnoy
Fresnoy
Fresnoy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A tiny village situated some 20 miles southeast of Montreuil-sur-Mer on the D109 road. Fresnoy Mountain is a mountain in Canada named after the town.-Population:-References:* -External links:*...
. On 30 August, he joined Bair and Horace Barton
Horace Barton
Captain Horace Dale Barton was a World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories.He originally spent 1914–1916 with the army in German Southwest and East Africa. He then joined the Royal Flying Corps in England. His first assignment after pilot's training was 84 Squadron. On 3 January...
to share in the destruction of an Albatros recon two-seater, making Harries a double ace.
Harries scored his last victory on 29 October 1918, teaming with Walter H. Longton
Walter H. Longton
Captain Walter Hunt Longton was an English World War I flying ace credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. Most unusually for a British or Commonwealth ace, all his victories resulted in the destruction of his foe....
and H. V. Evans in the destruction of a German reconnaissance plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics, though interestingly, his award did not mention his aerial victories.
Post World War I
Harries' award of his Distinguished Flying Cross was not gazetted until 7 February 1919. His award citation read, A fearless and gallant officer. On 12th October (1918), whilst flying at 100 feet altitude, he observed 12 enemy machine guns in action. Diving, he attacked them, silencing eight, and compelling the other four to limber up and withdraw.He would remain in service until 20 September 1919, when the Royal Air Force transferred him to the unemployed list. His fate beyond that time is unknown at present.