Thomas Sinclair Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1898-01-08)8 January 1898 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch | South African Army British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | No. 29 Squadron RAF |
| Battles / wars | World War I • Western Front World War II • East African Campaign |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross& Bar Croix de guerre (Belgium) |
MajorThomas Sinclair HarrisonDFC* (born 8 January 1898 inCape Colony) was aWorld War Ifighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories. He was aballoon buster, as he destroyed two enemy observation balloons.[1] This made him the fourth highest scoring South African.[2]
Harrison originally served with an artillery regiment inGerman East Africa. He then joined theRoyal Flying Corps in April 1917. From cadet he was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 12 August 1917,[3] and was confirmed in his rank and appointed a flying officer on 12 March 1918.[4]
In May he was assigned toNo. 29 Squadron RAF. His timing was impeccable; the squadron was newly equipped with brand newRAF SE.5as.[1][5] Beginning his victories the following month, he became the squadron's leading ace out of 26. While his 22 triumphs did not make up an overpowering part of the squadron's 385 victories,[5] he was a steady scorer.[1]
His first victory was on 27 June 1918, when he flamed aHalberstadt C, using RAF SE.5a serial 8859 to deadly effect. He destroyed aHannover C on 1 July.On 4 July, he was flying a signals intelligence sortie of "wireless interception duty," in SE.5a serial 3915.[1] He destroyed theLVG carrying the airborne radio, and burned one of its pair of escortPfalz D.IIIs. He was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission.[6]
On 8 July, he became an ace. By the middle of August, he was a double ace, scoring his tenth win on 13 August 1918. Two of these victories were over balloons. He ended August at an even dozen.[1]
By now, he had a favourite plane, serial number E5947. He would run off a series of seven victories in it, with the last being his 13th win on 6 September 1918.[1] A squadron-mate then ruined it with a fast hard landing.[6]
In four different aircraft, Harrison scored six times in October,[1] before being appointed aflight commander with the acting-rank of captain on the 29th,[7] and three more times in November, his last on the 10th, the day before the armistice.[1]
His 22 victories tallied 13 enemy aircraft destroyed single-handed, four of which burned; two destroyed in conjunction with another pilot; four planes driven down out of control; two balloons destroyed single-handed.[1]
Harrison was awarded the BelgianCroix de guerre in July 1919.[8]
Harrison returned to military service during World War II as an intelligence officer in theSouth African Air Force,[9] serving inAir Headquarters East Africa during theEast African Campaign in 1941.[10]