Date of birth:

July 27th, 1923 (New York City/New York, United States)

Date of death:

July 25th, 1977 (Seattle/Washington, United States)

Service number:

119026

Nationality:

American

John Worthington Harder attended high school in Southboro, Massachussetts. He joined the RAF at the age of 16 and was assigned to Allied Ferry Command to fly Hud­son bombers from California to England.
After a few of these trans-Atlantic flights, he decided to stay in England. In the RAF he flew many types of aircraft including heavy and light bombers, fighters, reconnaissance planes, and after the war even jets. By the end of the November 1941 he was under training with the RAF contingent at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. Over the following weeks and months he consistently refused offers to transfer to the USAAF after Pearl Harbour and America’s entry into the war.

After completing his training in early March 1942, Harder was posted to Britain. There are clear indications that the next year he served for at least a short time on operations with a night bomber unit. In May 1942 he attended the medical board, and was declared unfit because his night sight let him down. He was sent to 2 Officers School, Cosford, 27 May 1942 and was declared fit on 16 October 1942 after purchasing some contact lenses and remustered as a fighter pilot. After undertaking conversion training from late 1942, he was posted to 64 Squadron in March 1943. He remained with this unit for the next 16 months, achieving the rank of Flight Lieutenant and becoming a flight commander.

Harder was shot down while conducting ground attack operations over Normandy on 24 July 1944. After an attempted evasion he was captured, and eventually sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan. In February 1945 he was transferred to the satellite camp at Belaria. Shortly after the move he was moved as part of the Long March. According to later letters he was liberated by the Russians, but then escaped from Russian lines and made his way to American forces in early May. After a week in Belgium he was evacuated to the UK, arriving on 17 May 1945.

Harder seems to have considered remaining in the RAF as a career option, and after a period of leave (including to America) he joined 567 Squadron. Here he was engaged on anti-aircraft co-operation duties, although he also picked up some experience on Meteors. By the end of the year his rank had been reverted to Pilot Officer, and it is clear from his letters that he was feeling constrained by the routine and regulations of the peace-time RAF. Harder left the RAF in February 1946.

Harder remained in aviation after the war, possibly (again according to family stories, but unclear in log book) flying during the Arab-Israeli War. Through the 1950s and 1960s he worked for a succession of air lines established by himself (Commandair Inc., Starflite Inc.). He died in 1977.

"I knew John Harder from our time together working for the Boeing Company, Seattle Washington 1969 / 1970. John was an inspiration to me as a young pilot. I am not surprised at his inspirational service to the RAF in wartime. I felt quite honored to have his friendship.
- Tim Powell

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• - Sixth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37228 published on the 14 August 1945
  - Royal Air Force Museum
  - The Men in the Shed
  - The South East Echo