Trafford

Son of Alfred Ernest & Charlotte Mary Harte, from Orange Grove,
Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended the King Edward VII School.  
B. Sc. (Eng).

Joined the Metro-Vicker's Company as a College Apprentice in September 1936
and on completion of his apprenticeship in Novemebr 1938 joined the staff
of the General Engineering Department.   Joined the RAF Reserve of Officers
in which he held the rank of Flying Officer.   Mobilised in September 1939
and promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in 1941.    Aearded the D.F.C.
in March 1941 for gallentry and devotion to duty in the execution of air
operations.    Reported missing from air operations in October 1941 and
later presumed KinA.

In September 1939, 107 Squadron was a light bomber squadron, equipped with
the Bristol Blenheim.   It was one of the few bomber squadrons to begin
active operations in 1939, taking part in the attack on Wilhelmshaven on
the second day of the war.

Gazetted on 7th March 1941 where he is listed as serving in 107 Sqn.

The squadron was involved in Norway in April 1940, before taking part in
the attacks on German columns during the Battle of France.   After the fall
of France the Squadron took part in the attack on German invasion barges.  
In August 1941 the squadron's Blenheims flew out to Luqa on Malta, from
where they attacked Axis targets in Italy, Sicily and North Africa.

Flying witth 107 Sqn, W/C Harte was the pilot of a Blenheim Mk IV - No.
Z7638 on an anti-shipping mission around the south coast of Italy.  At
14.40 hrs his a/c was in collision with another Blenheim Z7638, crashing at
Capo Sant'Allesio, which is on the east coast of Sicily, about halfway
between Messina and Catania.   The six crew members (3 from each a/c) were
all killed as was a Lieutenant from the Royal Engineers, who was a
passenger aboard Harte's a/c.

Commemorated on the King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, War Memorial -
see http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol014pd.html