Sergeant Harry Francis McKernin (1079134) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was the son of H. McKernin and Minnie McKernin of Belfast.
McKernin died on 3rd November 1943 aged 23 years old. He was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner on Avro Lancaster W4822 DX-P flying with R.A.F. 57 Squadron. The Mark I bomber came down over Hechtel, Belgium. It was one of 589 planes taking part in a raid having taken off at 1722hrs from R.A.F. East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, England bound for Dusseldorf, Germany.
The bombing of the target began between 1942hrs and 2011hrs causing damage to housing and industrial factories. Luftwaffe Fighters shot down 18 Allied planes. A further 13 returned to base with damage. Oberleutnant Werner Baake of 3/NJG1 shot down McKernin’s Lancaster. This was the German’s 20th victory over an Allied plane. As the Bomber went down, the crew battled with extinguishers to control the fire before the Captain issued the order to abandon the plane. Pilot Donald R. West heroically remained on board making sure the remaining crew reached safety.
Remembering the crew of Lancaster W4822
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buggy | Norman F. | Pilot Officer | Navigator | R.A.F.V.R. 147138. Became prisoner of war no. 3348 at Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria. |
| Clements | Robert Sinclair | Flight Lieutenant | 2nd Pilot | R.C.A.F. Survived and evaded capture. |
| Edmunds | John | Sergeant | Air Gunner | R.A.F.V.R. 1392733. Killed. |
| Elliott | James McPhail | Flying Officer | Air Bomber | R.A.F.V.R. Survived and evaded capture aged 22 years old. |
| Heaton | Francis Patrick | Sergeant | Air Gunner | R.A.F.V.R. 1699714. Killed aged 20 years old. |
| McKernin | Harry Francis | Sergeant | Wireless Operator | R.A.F.V.R. 1079134. Killed aged 23 years old. From Belfast, Co. Antrim. |
| Neill | William Frederick | Sergeant | Flight Engineer | R.A.F.V.R. 531666. Killed aged 25 years old. From Belfast, Co. Antrim. |
| West | Donald R. | 1st Lieutenant | Pilot | U.S.A.A.F. Killed aged 25 years old. Posthumously awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. |
Harry Francis McKernin’s grave is in Section 7, Row D, Grave 1-4 of Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium. Members of the Lancaster crew were first buried at Brusthem Airfield Cemetery. He lies next another crew member from Belfast, William Frederick Neill. McKernin’s headstone bears the inscription:
Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.