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Due to crazy levels of work, I missed #TyphoonTuesday this week, so today is #TyphoonThursday!
And having just spoken to his daughter, it would be wrong for it not to be about F/L Harry Hardy DFC CD RCAF who passed away earlier this year. 1/ #SWW #WW2
And having just spoken to his daughter, it would be wrong for it not to be about F/L Harry Hardy DFC CD RCAF who passed away earlier this year. 1/ #SWW #WW2
Harry enlisted in 1941 and received his wings in Nov 1942. initially stationed with RCAF, Harry was deployed to the ETO in Jan '44. After being trained in the art of ground attack, joined 440 Sqn RCAF in Aug '44. He inherited Typhoon MN311 I8-P named Pulverizer I. 2/
Thinking it bad luck to change the name of an aircraft, Harry would 'keep', with the blessing of her ground crew, the subsequent I8-Ps naming them Pulveriser II-IV, with IV becoming one of the most famous 'Bomphoons' ever, with many a modeller building RB389 along the way. 3/
Harry would survive 110 combat hours in Typhoons and later becoming a mechanical engineer. Harry had a fall earlier this year which exacerbated underlying conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic meant his time with his family was limited but they saw him as often as possible. 4/
While I was with @project_typhoon, I was able to arrange and send Harry a Get Well card that over 150 supporters had e-signed and sent their best wishes. His daughter said it made him smile. Harry passed away on May 21st 2020, just shy of his 98th birthday. 5/
But, Harry has left an incredible recorded legacy, especially the one recorded by his grandson Rick of the presentation he gave to Canadian Bomber Command Veterans in 2006, part one is linked below: 6/
Also fantastic are the recordings and videos held by the @JunoBeachCentre, to which Harry donated a model of Pulverizer II, which hangs in the centre. Here is their obituary and video of Harry remembering his time in Typhoons: 7/ https://www.junobeach.org/farewell-harry-hardy/
And Harry wrote about his experiences in Chapter 6 of his autobiography which you can find below. As a snippet of life in a Canadian fighter-bomber squadron, it is wry, funny and heartfelt.
I do hope you raise a glass to Harry, I certainly do. end/
http://www.nightlitepictures.com/photolab/H.J.%20Hardy-The%20War%20years.pdf
I do hope you raise a glass to Harry, I certainly do. end/
http://www.nightlitepictures.com/photolab/H.J.%20Hardy-The%20War%20years.pdf
