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Aircraftman Harry William Clack

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Aircraftman Harry William Clack

Birth
Croydon, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London, England
Death
25 Oct 1940 (aged 16)
Cambridge, City of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Burial
Cambridge, City of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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The youngest person, aged 16, to serve in the RAF and in the Battle of Britain

AC Harry Clack, of the 39th Entry of RAF Halton Apprentices, was killed 70 years ago, on 25 October 1940, aged 16.

He was electrocuted by overhead powerlines while trying to recover a wrecked aircraft in Cambridgeshire.

A service, attended by his niece, was held at the Military Cemetery in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, earlier.

Harry, who is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, was sent from RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire to join No. 54 Maintenance Unit.

It was part of Marshall of Cambridge in Newmarket Road and was tasked with the recovery of crashed aircraft, both Allied and German.

On his second day on the unit, Harry and several others were despatched to a site at Eaton Socon, to recover a Dornier 215 reconnaissance aircraft, which had been shot down by RAF fighters.

During the removal of the wreckage, the crane jib made contact with an overhead power line, which electrocuted Harry and another airman.
The youngest person, aged 16, to serve in the RAF and in the Battle of Britain

AC Harry Clack, of the 39th Entry of RAF Halton Apprentices, was killed 70 years ago, on 25 October 1940, aged 16.

He was electrocuted by overhead powerlines while trying to recover a wrecked aircraft in Cambridgeshire.

A service, attended by his niece, was held at the Military Cemetery in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, earlier.

Harry, who is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, was sent from RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire to join No. 54 Maintenance Unit.

It was part of Marshall of Cambridge in Newmarket Road and was tasked with the recovery of crashed aircraft, both Allied and German.

On his second day on the unit, Harry and several others were despatched to a site at Eaton Socon, to recover a Dornier 215 reconnaissance aircraft, which had been shot down by RAF fighters.

During the removal of the wreckage, the crane jib made contact with an overhead power line, which electrocuted Harry and another airman.

Inscription

AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM


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  • Created by: Mark Andrew
  • Added: Oct 30, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60904476/harry_william-clack: accessed ), memorial page for Aircraftman Harry William Clack (11 Nov 1923–25 Oct 1940), Find a Grave Memorial ID 60904476, citing Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridge, City of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England; Maintained by Mark Andrew (contributor 46818298).