Operation: Ramrod 162

Date: 05th August 1944 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 64 Squadron (motto: Tenax propositi - 'Firm of purpose'). 10 Group

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: MJ454

Code: SH-?

Base: RAF Harrowbeer, Devon

Location: Lézardrieux, Brittany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Henry Joseph Meharry NZ/41992 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 10:45 hrs. as No 3 of a section and the squadron had carried out its escort duty of Lancasters.

On return they decided to attack a heavily armed minesweeper off Lézardrieux.

MJ454 was hit by flak based on the banks of the Trieux river. His body was recovered at Le Moulin a Mer on the 19th and buried initially at Lézardrieux.

F/O. Alan Thorpe was also hit, flying Spitfire LF.IX MK895 over Bréhat, but he managed to abandon his aircraft to be picked up by a ASR launch.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Lt. Henry Joseph Meharry. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery. Grave XIV.D.10. Born on the 06th July 1917 at Reefton. A commercial traveller for J.W. Bayley an Company prior to service. Enlisted on the 09th February 1941 at Levin. Promoted to sergeant and received his pilots badge on the 26th July 1941. Son of Robert Emmett Burke and Nada Inez Rebecca Burke, of Matamata. A total of 1051 flying hours logged and on his 20th operational sortie wit 64 squadron but, he had already served 2 tours with14 squadron RNZAF in the South Pacific theatre. Credited with 1 enemy aircraft destroyed.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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