Mission: Köln

Date: 30/31st May 1942

Unit: No. 158 Squadron

Type: Wellington II

Serial: Z8577

Coded: NP-T

Location: Schelphoek

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Donald Joseph Harkness D.F.C. 41694 R.A.F. Age; 25, Killed

Obs: P/O. Alexander Robertson Edgar D.F.M. 45985 R.A.F. Age; 23, Killed

W/Op: P/O. Hubert Alan Radcliffe 122312 R.A.F. Age; 32, Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Hill Mercer 1063545 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Lt. Bernard James Lovett 45715 R.A.F. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23.19 hrs from Driffield, Yorkshire. Two 158 squadron Wellington's were shot down on this raid, the other piloted by Sgt. R.C. O'Brien R.C.A.F. Z8577 has been claimed by two German night fighter aces. Oblt. Heinrich Prinz Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein from 9./NJG2 (This was his 2nd kill and on this same night shot down a "Manchester" from 49 CF.
A German night fighter ace with a total of 83 kills to his credit. He was shot down and killed on the 20/21st January 1944 at Lubars, near Magdeburg -thought to be by a Mosquito.) and Hptm. Dr. Horst Patuschka from 7./NJG2. (Also a German Night Fighter ace with a total of 23 - 25 kills to his credit. He was killed on the 6/7th March 1943 near Bizerta, Tunisia due to engine failure.) Some reports say that Z8577 was shot down by Oblt. Emil Beier of 1./NJG1 but we feel that our research is more up to date with information coming from our Luftwaffe database.


Sq/Ldr. Donald Joseph Harkness D.F.C. Citation reads: "This officer has carried out 34 operational flights. In September 1940, he was detailed to bomb shipping in Ostend Harbour and also to cooperate with Naval forces in work of extreme importance. Perfect timing was essential. He dropped his flares at the exact minute and was also able to bomb his own target in spite of extremely bad weather conditions. He has shown a grim determination to carry out his duties under difficulties and is also an excellent navigator and able pilot."

Little history of the pilot as supplied by Don Murray (a relative by marriage):

"Donald Joseph Harkness was born in Midhurst, Taranaki on September 16th 1916 The son of George Percy and Georgine McKay Harkness and wife of Joan Harkness of Esher, Surrey.
He received his secondary education at the Straford Technical High School obtaining his matriculation certificate. He also attended the Canterbury College of Accountancy and studied elementary radio and electricity with the International Correspondence School.
His sporting actives included football, tennis, golf,and he was a member of the 1st IX at High School. He served in the cadets and 1st Taranaki Regiment, prior to his enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1937.
He was posted to Air Force Headquarters Training Depot,Trentham on October 27 1937 transferring three months later to Wigram (NZ Air Base) and being remustered to Clerk Stores Accounting. He was reclassified from AC2 to AC1 in 1st July 1938. He applied for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force and on discharge from the New Zealand Air Force he embarked on the Rangitiki for the United Kingdom on November 19 1938.
On arriving in England he was posted on December 28th to No.4 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, in Brough,Yorkshire,being promoted to Acting Pilot Officer on March 4th 1939, He was posted to No.1 Depot, Oxbridge then to No3 Flying Training School, South Cerney, Gloucestershire on March 18th. Six months later he moved to Station Abington to undertake supernumerary flying duties. Late in November he was posted to Station Harwell for duties in the New Zealand flight, shortly afterwards being transferred to No. 75 Squadron Mildenhall.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on September 23rd 1940. Soon afterward he was posted to No 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell. From August 23rd to September 13th he was attached to the Central Flying School, Hullavington, Wiltshire, on a Flying Instructors war course and on February 18th 1942 he was posted No 158 Squadron, Marston Moor being promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader shortly afterwards."

Above and right: Donald Joseph Harkness D.F.C.

Burial details:

Donald Joseph Harkness D.F.C. Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery Row D. Grave. 20.
Son of George Percy and Georgine McKay Harkness, of Midhurst, Taranaki, New Zealand; husband of Joan Harkness, of Esher, Surrey.
Alexander Robertson Edgar D.F.M. Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery Row C. Grave. 1.
Son of James and Elizabeth Robertson Edgar, of Buckhaven, Fife.
Hubert Alan Radcliffe Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery Row B. Grave. 25.
Son of Frank and May Radcliffe, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire; husband of Eda Radcliffe, of Ashton-under-Lyne.
Hill Mercer Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery Row B. Grave. 29.
Son of George and Jane Mercer, of Lisburn, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
Bernard James Lovett Flushing (Vlissingen) Cemetery Row B. Grave. 26.
No further details known as yet.
With thanks to Don Murray for his research on the Pilot, Donald Joseph Harkness D.F.C.