Harry Broadhurst

:"See also Henry Broadhurst for the trade unionist and politician"Infobox Military Person
name= Sir Harry Broadhurst
lived= 28 October, 1905 – 29 August, 1995
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=


caption= Air Vice Marshal Broadhurst
nickname=Broady
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1925–1961
rank= Air Chief Marshal
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands= Allied Air Forces Central Europe
Bomber Command
Second Tactical Air Force
No. 83 Group
Desert Air Force
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Wittering
RAF Coltishall
unit=
battles= World War II
awards= Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Air Force Cross
Mention in Despatches (3)
laterwork=

Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst GCB, KBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC, RAF (28 October, 1905 – 29 August, 1995), commonly known as Broady, was a senior Royal Air Force commander.

Early Life

Broadhurst was born in 1905 in Frimley Surrey, England. Known as “Broady” to his friends, he oringinally joined the Army as a 2nd Lt. in the Royal Artillery, before in 1926 transferring to the RAF at the age of 19. [C. Shores & C. Williams, 'Aces High' (Grub street 1994), page 150]

RAF career

Completing his training, he then joined No 11 Squadron in India in 1928, flying the Westland Wapitiand Hawker Harts over the North West frontier. He returned to the UK in 1931, joining No 41 Squadron flying the Bristol Bulldog. By the mid 1930s, Broadhurst was an accomplished pilot, flying fighters and doing acrobatics at air shows, gaining a reputation as an aerial daredevil with a flair for aerial acrobatics. In 1936, as a Flight Lieutenant, he was personally congratulated by the king on his aerobatic showing in the Gloster Gauntlet. Awarded an AFC in 1937, he served at the RAF Staff College in Andover. In January 1939 he was posted as CO to No. 111 Squadron. [C. Shores & C. Williams, 'Aces High' (Grub street 1994), page 150]

War Service

In January 1940 Broady became CO, RAF Coltishall, before joining 60 Wing in France as Commander. Broadhurst participated in groung support during the Battle of France, an experience that showed him the importance of close air support for later operations in the war. He was heavily involved in the Battle of Britain and as CO, RAF Wittering, often flew with the squadrons under his command, both day and night fighter units.

In December 1940 he was posed to command the Hornchurch Sector of No. 11 Group Fighter Command, and continued to fly on operations, even as a Group Captain. On 4 July 1941, leading No. 54 Squadron, he was involved in a dogfight with Bf 109’s, claiming 2 shot down before he was was hit and his aircraft badly damaged. Hit by flak over Cap Griz Nez, he managed to return to base, belly landing his crippled Spitfire. On 7 July 1941 his Spitfire was hit and damaged by "Hauptmann" Josef Priller of JG 26. [ 'JG 26 War Diary Volume 1', Caldwell, (grub street)] In May 1942 He became SASO, No. 11 Group, although he continued to fly operationally where possible.

His final kill claims were made on 19 August 1942, bringing his total to 13 destroyed, 7 probables and 10 damaged.

In late 1942 he was posted to the Middle East and became Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) to Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham, commander of the Desert Air Force (DAF). Broadhurst came into conflict with Coningham over the use and objectives of the Desert Air Force. Broadhurst took command of the DAF in January 1943, becoming (at the age of 38) the youngest Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force. He quickly perfected the way he perceived fighter aircraft ought to be employed as ground support fighter-bombers. His fighter squadrons were trained intensively to strafe and bomb Axis vehicles, tanks, transport and communication lines. This aerial cover of the 8th Army won the approval and appreciation of General Bernard Montgomery and would form the basis of the ground attack principles utilised during the D-Day landings and beyond. [ 'Desert Air Force at War', Bowyer & Shores (Ian Allen 1981)]

Broadhurst’s enthusiastic backing of the Army and his frank opinions did not always go down well with his superiors in the RAF. He returned to the UK in 1944 to command No. 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force.In 1945 he became Air Officer (Administration), Fighter Command.

Post war

In 1946 Broadhurst was AOC, 61 Group, and reverted to Air Commodore rank that same year.In 1949, Broadhurst attended the Imperial Defence College. After promotion to AVM again he became ACAS (ops) in 1952 and then Commander-in-Chief of 2nd TAF in 1954 as an Air Marshal. Broadhurst was the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command from 22 January 1956 to 20 May 1959. He was promoted to Air Chief Marshal in 1956.

In 1956, at the peak of Broadhurst’s career as Commander in Chief of RAF Bomber Command, his reputation suffered following a fatal accident to an Avro Vulcan. Broadhurst took aircraft XA897, the first Vulcan delivered to the RAF, and a full Vulcan crew, on a round-the-world tour.Blackman, Tony. "Vulcan Test Pilot". p.142] On return to the UK, Broadhurst was to land at London Heathrow Airport, a civil airport, to complete the successful tour before the assembled aviation media. The weather at Heathrow was poor. RAF aircraft were not equipped to use the Instrument Landing System installed at Heathrow and other civil airports so a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) was carried out. XA897 struck the ground about 2,000 feet short of the runway just as power was applied. XA897 was damaged by the initial impact but rose back in the air. The pilot, Squadron Leader D.R. “Podge” Howard, and Broadhurst who was occupying the co-pilot seat, both ejected from the aircraft and survived. The aircraft again hit the ground and broke up. The Vulcan had only two ejection seats for the pilot and co-pilot. The other four occupants on XA897, including Howard’s usual co-pilot, died in the accident.

In 1959 he became Commander, Allied Air Forces, Central Europe, until March 1961, when he retired from the RAF.

After retiring , Broadhurst was appointed Managing Director of Avro Aircraft. [Blackman, Tony. "Vulcan Test Pilot". p.114 and p.119] In 1965 he becames Managing Director of Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd., and in 1968 a Director of the Hawker Siddeley Group Limited, retiring in 1976.

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Broadhurst.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chf Mshl Broadhurst]
*The Times, Tuesday, Oct 02, 1956; pg. 8
*Blackman, Tony. "Vulcan Test Pilot". London: Grub Street 2007. ISBN-13: 9781904943884
* C. Shores & C. Williams, 'Aces High' (Grub street 1994), page 150-151; full biog.

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