Nickname(s) Broady Name Harry Broadhurst Allegiance United Kingdom Battles and wars World War II | Years of service 1925–1961 Battles/wars Second World War Rank Air chief marshal | |
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Commands held Allied Air Forces Central EuropeBomber CommandSecond Tactical Air ForceNo. 61 GroupNo. 83 GroupDesert Air ForceRAF HornchurchRAF WitteringRAF ColtishallNo. 111 Squadron Died August 29, 1995, Chichester, United Kingdom Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in dispatches, Air Force Cross | ||
RAF interview with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst 1985
Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst, (28 October 1905 – 29 August 1995), commonly known as Broady, was a senior Royal Air Force commander and flying ace of the Second World War.
Contents
- RAF interview with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst 1985
- Early life
- Early RAF career
- War service
- Post war
- References
Early life
Broadhurst was born in 1905 in Frimley, Surrey, England. He joined the British Army as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and then, in 1926, transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Early RAF career
Completing his training, he joined No. 11 Squadron RAF in India in 1928, flying the Westland Wapiti and Hawker Hart over the North West frontier. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1931, joining No. 41 Squadron RAF flying the Bristol Bulldog.
By the mid-1930s, Broadhurst was an accomplished pilot, flying fighters and doing acrobatics at air shows, gaining a reputation as an aerial daredevil with a flair for aerial acrobatics. In 1936, as a Flight Lieutenant, he was personally congratulated by the king on his aerobatic showing in the Gloster Gauntlet. Awarded an Air Force Cross in 1937, he served at the RAF Staff College in Andover. In January 1939 he was posted as Officer Commanding No. 111 Squadron.
War service
In May 1940 he was appointed Station Commander at RAF Coltishall, before joining No. 60 Wing in France as wing commander. Broadhurst participated in ground support during the