Nationality:

British

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

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1940

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...."

• Photo: BBC - People's War
  - WW2 People's War is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. The archive can be found at bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar
  
• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 34893 published on the 9 July 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 34910 published on the 30 July 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 35263 published on the 2 September 1941
  - Flightglobal
  - BBC - WW2 People's War
  - RAF Commands 1939-1945
  - Old Scarborians Association