W/Cdr Les Harland

Adrian Roberts · Aug 18, 2009

Wing Commander Les Harland - Telegraph

Wing Commander Les Harland, who has died aged 89, had an unusually varied RAF career, which included flying bomber aircraft with the Desert Air Force, helicopters during the Malayan emergency and testing air-to-air missiles on night fighters.

Harland's introduction to the dangers of flying operations in North Africa started on his first mission, which was to bomb the German-held airfield at Barce in June 1942. Flying in a formation of six aircraft, his Baltimore was hit by anti-aircraft fire, which injured one of his crew and damaged his bomber. Moments later, the aircraft alongside him received a direct hit and blew up.

Flying from advanced desert airfields, his squadron, No 223, provided support for the Eighth Army as it retreated towards Egypt. Harland attacked enemy troop and transport concentrations, often against heavy opposition, and by October he had completed 33 operations. No 223 provided direct support during the Battle of Alamein and the subsequent Allied advance.

On October 24, Harland recorded in his logbook: "The Great Push Starts," expressing the relief of those who had been forced to experience the earlier setbacks and withdrawals. Over the next week, as the Eighth Army forced Rommel's Panzers to retreat, Harland flew 13 more bombing operations attacking enemy resupply lines, before his squadron was withdrawn.

No 223 returned to Libya in March 1943 and harried the enemy as it retreated to Tunisia. On April 19 Harland flew his 60th operation, which proved to be a spectacular success as a formation of 70 bombers caused huge explosions on a German landing ground, the shock waves being felt by the force flying at 7,000 ft.

After a rest tour as an instructor, Harland returned to operational flying as a flight commander on No 55 Squadron and moved to Italy to join the battle during March 1944. Harland regularly led formations of 18 Baltimores attacking road and rail targets and over the next nine months his formations attacked the German lines of communication and supply routes. After completing his 109th operation on October 1, he was rested and awarded the DFC for leading his Flight "with brilliant success".

The son of the station master at York, Leslie Leethall Harland was born on February 12 1920 and educated at the city's Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School.

His passion for flying was triggered when his grandmother paid five shillings for him to have a flight with the Alan Cobham Flying Circus from the Knavesmire, now York Racecourse. He joined the RAF in September 1940 and trained to be a pilot in Southern Rhodesia.

At the end of the war he left the RAF for a brief period before rejoining and accepting a permanent commission in January 1947. For the next few years he specialised as a flying instructor.

In September 1954 he was attached to the Westland Aircraft Company's helicopter school before leaving for Malaya to join No 155 Squadron, operating the Whirlwind helicopter in support of ground operations against the communist insurgents. After a few months, he took command of the squadron and over the next two years he flew hundreds of short-range sorties taking military and police forces into jungle areas to flush out the enemy. Return flights often included the evacuation of casualties. On some days he flew as many as 18 sorties in a day.

Many of Harland's sorties involved landing in very small clearings where the clearance for his rotor blades was minimal. Later in the campaign his helicopters were deployed to spray areas with defoliant to destroy the enemy's crops. These operations were particularly hazardous as the helicopters had to operate over territory with no friendly troops below. Harland undertook many of these sorties and also dropped sticks of SAS paratroopers into the jungle.

During Harland's time in command of No 155, there was a dramatic increase in the commitments for the helicopter force and his squadron operated at intensive rates. For his services during the Malayan Emergency, Harland was awarded a Bar to his DFC.

On his return to the Britain, he was given command of the Guided Weapons Trials Squadron at RAF Valley on Anglesey, flying Javelin night fighters to test the Firestreak air-to-air missile.

Many flights involved dummy tests but he also carried out many live firings, shooting down unmanned aircraft and drones over the weapons ranges in Cardigan Bay, his last being against a Jindvik drone on March 21 1962.

During a tour at the Nato headquarters in Naples in 1963, Harland was hosing down the terrace of his apartment when an earthquake struck. As the building rocked, he stood explaining the movement of the water to his children until his wife suggested that it would be a good idea if they descended to ground level before the building collapsed.

On retiring from the RAF in 1967, he joined Hawker Siddeley Dynamics at Hatfield where he worked in the company's guided missile marketing division until he finally decided to retire at the age of 65.

With his impressive moustache and smart demeanour, Harland was a man of immense style and humour. Whilst serving in Malaya he acquired a native blowpipe and poison-tipped darts. At his evening house parties, he invited his guests into the garden and entertained them by firing a dart at a breadboard held by his wife. Fortunately, he never missed.

For many years he drove a pale blue, American-built Hudson Hornet car (another of his Malayan acquisitions) which he shipped back on his return to the Britain in 1957. He spent many hours with his home-brew kits producing very drinkable beers and wines from a variety of hops, fruits and flowers.

He greatly enjoyed the comradeship of former aircrew friends and was a keen supporter of the Lincoln Branch of the Aircrew Association and the Air Training Corps. He also maintained his contacts with the Central Flying School Association.

In later life, Harland and his wife were surprised to see images of themselves on television emerging from a church as newly-weds. It turned out that they had been filmed at the event, in February 1945, by a local film enthusiast whose footage was used for a programme featuring "bygone York".

Towards the end of his life Les Harland devoted all his time to the care of his ailing wife Enid, who died earlier this year. He died on July 20 and is survived by his son. A daughter predeceased him.
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Reccemitch · Aug 19, 2009

W/Cdr Les Harland RIP

Paul

spidge · Aug 19, 2009

Another interesting life.

RIP

Antipodean Andy · Aug 23, 2009

He sounds like quite the character. RIP.

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