Letter from Donald Harkness on Narvik Reconnaissance Flight
Mar 21, 2023 14:25:47 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 21, 2023 14:25:47 GMT 12
LONG WAR FLIGHT
NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN
14½ HOURS IN THE AIR
RECONNAISSANCE OVER NARVIK
[by telegraph — OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday
The Stratford pilot mentioned last week in a cable message from London, which described the war's longest reconnaissance flight of more than 2000 miles, was Flying-Officer Donald Harkness, formerly of Stratford. According to a letter received by airmail by his father, Mr. G. P. Harkness, of Midhurst, an Auckland pilot, Flight-Lieutenant A. A. N. Breckon, was also one of the crew of the aeroplane from the Royal Air Force New Zealand Bomber Squadron, which flew from Scotland to Narvik and back.
"I have been stationed in the north of Scotland for a week or so now," wrote Flying-Officer Harkness. "A few days ago we did one trip of 14½ hours, during which we covered a distance equal to a trip non-stop across the Tasman and back again. We believe this is the longest reconnaissance trip of the war so far. Not bad going, was it? It was pretty tough work and we are just beginning to feel fit again. Most of the trip was over the sea, so I am quite used to long sea crossings.
"Things have been much livelier since the Germans invaded Norway. The rest of our chaps are still at another station and have done several bombing raids since we came north. So far we have not had a single loss in our squadron."
Flying-Officer Harkness the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1937 and after about a year at Wigram he left New Zealand with a party of 16 New Zealanders to join the Royal Air Force. He was posted to the New Zealand Bomber Squadron at the outbreak of the war.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 18 MAY 1940
NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN
14½ HOURS IN THE AIR
RECONNAISSANCE OVER NARVIK
[by telegraph — OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday
The Stratford pilot mentioned last week in a cable message from London, which described the war's longest reconnaissance flight of more than 2000 miles, was Flying-Officer Donald Harkness, formerly of Stratford. According to a letter received by airmail by his father, Mr. G. P. Harkness, of Midhurst, an Auckland pilot, Flight-Lieutenant A. A. N. Breckon, was also one of the crew of the aeroplane from the Royal Air Force New Zealand Bomber Squadron, which flew from Scotland to Narvik and back.
"I have been stationed in the north of Scotland for a week or so now," wrote Flying-Officer Harkness. "A few days ago we did one trip of 14½ hours, during which we covered a distance equal to a trip non-stop across the Tasman and back again. We believe this is the longest reconnaissance trip of the war so far. Not bad going, was it? It was pretty tough work and we are just beginning to feel fit again. Most of the trip was over the sea, so I am quite used to long sea crossings.
"Things have been much livelier since the Germans invaded Norway. The rest of our chaps are still at another station and have done several bombing raids since we came north. So far we have not had a single loss in our squadron."
Flying-Officer Harkness the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1937 and after about a year at Wigram he left New Zealand with a party of 16 New Zealanders to join the Royal Air Force. He was posted to the New Zealand Bomber Squadron at the outbreak of the war.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 18 MAY 1940
