Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Sgt. Martin Harris (# 1193140) was member of 'Crew No.2' (the Sgt. Babington team) of No. 466 (RAAF) Squadron, at RAF station Leconfield, in the East Riding of Yorkshire (E England, UK). He was the Wireless Operator of the 6 men on board of Vickers Wellington (Mk. X) bomber HE152 - squadron and radio coded with HD-'L' (for Love) - during their 2nd operation over enemy territory, at Thu. 14th Jan. 1943. Their target area was the shipping lane / waterway West of Ameland island, in Friesland (the Netherlands), the so called 'Bornrif' area; it was their task to drop sea mines into the waters there, during a 'Gardening' Operation, inside the range of the gun batteries of the local (German) 'Atlantikwall' defence line, with fortifications etc. nearby Hollum village (at Ameland ise). Although in the darkness of the late afternoon and the following evening, their bomber was detected by (Kriegsmarine) radar equipment, and came under heavy anti-aircraft fire of the nearby 'West Batterie' of Ameland island, of the unit 7./MFlaA.246, and at 17.52 hrs. local time. This happening resulted in an air crash soon after, a ditching into the (cold) waters of the North Sea, nearby the Eastern island tip of the neighbouring isle of Terschelling (North of the 'Bosplaat' area).
All crew are Missing In Action (MIA) since then, with exception of one airman, Canadian Navigator (F/Sgt.) H.W. 'Herb' Stewart, who's human remains were later found / recovered at sea, and buried at Vlieland island, in the Saint Nicolas Churchyard of Oost-Vlieland village (in grave 57, of the 'Allied Plot Of Honor'). 'Martin' is not only mentioned in Leicesterhire, UK (on memorials in the Market Harborough area) but also in Yorkshire / UK, inside the Lincoln Cathedral / the (RAF) Airmen's Chapel of it, in the 'Roll Of Honour' of No. 4 Group; and also via Panel 177 of the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) Memorial, at Canwick Hill, just outside of Lincoln city. And in the Netherlands, in the General Cemetery of Ameland island (nearby Nes village), he's mentioned as missing airman too, on the 'Remembrance Bench' near the local Plot Of Honour there.
The crash of their aircraft, it was the first loss ever of No. 466 Squadron, which unit started operations only one day before, via a similar 'gardening' sortie nearby Terschelling island (over the 'Vliestroom' area).

Submitted by W. de Jong in 2021