Here is a handsome portrait of Warrant Officer Henry John Irons, but known as Harry. He is seventeen years old in the photo and it was taken soon after he joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) in 1940.

This is a list of medals Harry earned through his gallant service with the RAF and for England. They were awarded during the war between 1940 and 1945.

left to right:
Distinguished Flying Cross 1943
Star (Bomber Command Bar) 1939-1945
Aircrew European Star (France & Germany Bar)
England Defense War Medal 1939-1945

I became aware of the great Harry Irons through a friend at the 95th Bomb Group, Wyn Harrison of Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, England. Lincolnshire is known as bomber county, due to the many air bases that were spread across this area. She helped out sending the photographs and information I would need to post these images of Harry.

With respect and awe in what Harry accomplished during his service with the RAF between 1940 and 1945 I dedicate these pages to him. My father, Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson knew many RAF airmen and held a special feeling for them in their battle hardened spirit. What they accomplished long before he ever showed up for combat duty was duly noted by him. They welcomed him to England and his time serving with the 95th at Horham he had plenty of interaction with the airmen of the RAF.

Harry Irons was born in East London on January 12th, 1924 and was training to be a tailor when the war started. He quickly joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) when he was seventeen years old, having lied about his age and no one queried it. He was first trained as a wireless operator, but there was a shortage of air gunners so he became a rear gunner.

Harry flew aboard the four-engine Lancaster and Halifax bombers in the Number 9 and 158 Squadrons and was based at Royal Air Force Waddington, England. In his first few missions, Harry was at the mid-upper gunner position. Richard 'Dick' Stubbs, the crew's pilot thought that he would have a good view and a chance to look all around. Harry later moved to the rear gunner position.

At Waddington he met and flew with Wyn's cousin Flight Lt. William Alfred Colson who was later killed in December of 1943 in the 97th Squadron Pathfinder Force. It was in that how Wyn met Harry Irons.

His final rank after 60 missions (ops) was Warrant Officer. It often caused confusion in RAF records that Harry, whose birth name was Harry Galloway, but changed his last name to Irons at one point. Two different names are noted in Harry's RAF combat flight records. Though in the end, as RAF records show, Warrant Officer Harry Irons can be proud to say he accomplished 60 missions, which in my mind was a phenomenal feat.

The Royal Air Force bomber crews and fighter pilots were up against the German Luthwaffe following the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia on March 15th, 1939. England declared war on the Germans on September 3rd, 1939 and soon the RAF took to the skies.

The Americans first combat missions out of England began in early 1942 flying out of British RAF airfields. Looking back now, that was two and a half years later when the Americans finally got the 8th Air Corps in the air and began their combat missions over Nazi occupied Europe.

In that comparison, my father's 35 missions that he succeeded in completing between February and September 1944 - Harry's combat flying record of 60 raids to me is remarkable and truly beyond the pale.

In 1943 an American B-17 crew had far less than a 50% chance of surviving/completing their allotted 25 missions. That was extended to 30 and from there halted at 35 in early 1944. The RAF system made it clear the crew had to return with a photograph of the bombing results to have the mission count on their records. In that, you can be sure many RAF aircrews flew far more dangerous raids than their RAF records show.

Towards the end of the war, Harry married Catherine in December 1944. After the war Harry learned the dry cleaning trade and was eventually able to open his own dry cleaning business. As a veteran he has been involved in many RAF activities, giving talks, attending important services and carried an enormous part in making it possible for British Bomber Command to have the magnificent monument they have in London.

A double portrait is below of Harry in 1940 and recently in England.