Harry Alexander

Please find attached a photo of my grandfather, Harry Alexander. He is the one sitting upfront.
I believe he was in RFC Squadron 104 and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He died in the early sixties before I was born.
I would love to find out about his service years, where he was posted etc.
I f you could give me any infirmation or at least point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.
Many Thanks

[Frank_Olynyk]

Your best source of information on him will be the personnel card in the microfilm collection Air 76 in the PRO (Public Record Office, in Kew, just outside London). The website (from memory) is pro.gov.uk. You can try contacting them and they may be able to make a copy from the microfilm, or refer you to established researchers who will charge for the service. I might also note that my files show him with one decisive combat, an out of control Fokker (Biplane) on September 13, 1918, with 104 Squadron, in DH 9 D5843, but he was an observer, which puts him in the back seat in your photograph. The combat report can be found in Air 1/480/15/312/242 covering the period 1918 September - October.

104 Squadron was an Independent Air Force unit, and their operations are covered in the recent book on IAF daylight operations, Independent Force, by Keith Rennles, published by Grub Street.

Frank.