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Budden, Harry

    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Service number 37257.

    Following the attack on the Gneisenau at Brest, Harry Budden was shot down on August 12th, 1941 and spent the rest of the war as a PoW in Stalag Luft III (Sagan and Belaria).
    At the time of his missing a news paper article was published with the headline: "The Flying Spaniel". Budden owned a spaniel named 'Michael' who accompanied him on all his raids such as the first bombing raid of the war at Sylt, March 1940, several raids on Norway and Berlin and other German towns. Michael was wounded in a back leg from shell splinter during raids on Gneisenau & Scharnhorst.
    When Budden was married, the first decision of his new wife was that Michael should stay home. On his next flight, Budden was shot down.
    after leaving the RAF in 1958 he retired to Scarborough became Chairman of 739 Squadron.

    Promotions:
    September 16th, 1935: Acting Pilot Officer (probation)
    December 19th, 1936: Pilot Officer
    July 19th, 1938: Flying Officer
    July 19th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant
    January 1st, 1946: Squadron Leader (temporary)
    July 1st, 1946: Wing Commander (temporary)
    October 1st, 1946: Squadron Leader (war sub)
    July 1st, 1947: Wing Commander
    June 22nd, 1948: Appointment to commission as Wing Commander
    March 29th, 1958: Retirement

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Flying Officer
    Awarded on:
    July 11th, 1940
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Acting Flight Lieutenant
    Awarded on:
    July 30th, 1940
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Acting Squadron Leader
    Unit:
    No. 104 Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    September 2nd, 1941
    Citation:
    "In July, 1941, large-scale attacks were made on German warships at Brest and La Pallice (including the "Gneisenau," "Scharnhorst "and "Prinz Eugen "). A smaller attack was made on Cherbourg. The operations were carried out in daylight and extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition were encountered by all aircraft when approaching the targets, which at Brest was protected by a balloon barrage. The air crews engaged succeeded, nevertheless, in securing direct hits on their objectives and in inflicting very severe damage in the target area. During the combats with enemy fighters 21 hostile aircraft were destroyed and others were severely damaged. The precise timing of attack by the various formations of aircraft and their correct approach to and accurate bombing of the objectives in the face of such powerful opposition; demanded great skill and high courage. The great success of these operations was largely due to the bravery, determination and resource displayed by the following officers and airmen, who. participated in various capacities as leaders and members of the aircraft crews...."
    Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

    Sources

    Photo