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Henry Ferriss | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 August 1917 Lee, London, England |
| Died | 16 August 1940 (aged 23) near Marden, England |
| Buried | St Mary's churchyard, Chislehurst, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1937–1940 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Commands held | No. 111 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
|
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Henry Ferriss, DFC (1 August 1917 – 16 August 1940) was a British flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with having shot down at least eleven aircraft.
Born in Lee, Ferriss joined the RAF in 1937 and was serving with No. 111 Squadron at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War. He flew extensively in the Battle of France and the subsequent Battle of Britain, claiming a number of aerial victories. He was killed in a mid-air collision with a bomber that he was attempting to shoot down.
Early life
Henry Michael Ferriss was born on 1 August 1917 at Lee, a south-eastern suburb of London, in England. He was educated at St Joseph's Academy in Blackheath, subsequently going on to attend Stonyhurst College.[1]
Ferriss was posted to No. 111 Squadron in May 1938. His new unit was stationed at Northolt and was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane fighter, the first RAF squadron to receive the type.[2]
Second World War
Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 111 Squadron moved north, initially to Acklington and then to Drem in Scotland, from where it patrolled along the coastline.[2] On 12 January 1940, Ferriss was promoted to flying officer.[3]
In February, No. 111 Squadron shifted again, this time to Wick, where it provided the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow with aerial cover. It was occasionally scrambled to counter Luftwaffe bomber attacks on Scapa Flow.[2][4] On 8 April, Ferriss claimed a half share in a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber destroyed near Scapa Flow, although this was not confirmed. Two days later, flying in the same vicinity, he shared in the destruction of another He 111, of Kampfgeschwader 26 (Bomber Wing 26).[5]
Battle of France
By mid-May, No. 111 Squadron was back in the south of England, from where it regularly flew to France following the invasion of that country.[2] On 18 May Ferriss destroyed three Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters to the east of Douai, and also claimed another Bf 110 as damaged.[5] From late May and into early June, No. 111 Squadron flew in support of Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk.[2] During this time, on 31 May, Ferriss shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter north of Dunkirk.[5]
Once the evacuation was completed, the squadron provided escorts for the Fleet Air Arm's bombing operations over the French coast and on 6 June, Ferriss destroyed two Bf 109s near Abbeville.[5][6]
Battle of Britain
A period of rest at Croydon followed for No. 111 Squadron so it could train up replacement pilots. During this time Ferris was recognised for his successes with an award of a Distinguished Flying Cross. This was gazetted on 20 June and the published citation read:
During two consecutive days in May, Flying Officer Ferriss shot down a total of four Messerschmitt 110's although heavily outnumbered. Later, he shot down a further three Messerschmitt 109's. In these combats he has displayed outstanding ability.
— London Gazette, No. 34878, 21 June 1940[7]
The squadron soon commenced patrolling over the English Channel and then became drawn into the aerial fighting over the southeast of England during the Battle of Britain.[2]
Ferriss is credited with having shot down eleven German aircraft, two of which were shared with other pilots. Another shared aerial victory was unconfirmed. He is also credited with one aircraft probably destroyed and two damaged.[5] Ferriss is buried at St Mary's churchyard, Chislehurst, England.[1][8]
Notes
- ^ a b "The Airmen's Stories – F/Lt. H M Ferriss". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Rawlings 1976, pp. 236–239.
- ^ "No. 34776". The London Gazette. 19 January 1940. p. 378.
- ^ Shores & Williams 1994, p. 37.
- ^ a b c d e Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 260–261.
- ^ Cull 2013, p. 77.
- ^ "No. 34878". The London Gazette. 21 June 1940. p. 3784.
- ^ "Casualty – Sergeant William Lawrence Dymond". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
References
- Bungay, Stephen (2015) [2000]. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. London: Aurum. ISBN 978-1-85410-801-2.
- Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola; Galea, Frederick (2000). Spitfires Over Sicily: The Crucial Role of the Malta Spitfires in the Battle of Sicily, January–August 1943. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-902304-32-2.
- Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.