Alexander Beaufort Fraser Fraser-Harris

Alexander Beaufort Fraser Fraser-Harris, D.S.C.*, CD**, was born on November 16, 1916 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the age of 13 he entered the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England as a cadet on a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship. He graduated as a Midshipman in 1936.

In 1938, after earning his watch-keeping certificate, he joined the rapidly expanding Fleet Air Arm and began flight training. He was granted his wings on April 1, 1939 and went on to the Royal Naval Air Service for advanced flying training and naval fighter course. He was sent to HMS Argus for deck landing qualification.

Fraser-Harris was promoted to Lieutenant on April 15, 1939 and joined No. 803 Naval Air Squadron on HMS Glorious based at Wick, Scotland. In late 1939 the Squadron flew Blackburn "Skua" dive-bomber aircraft on convoy protection and fighter patrols over North Sea shipping. He took part in the raids on Bergen Harbour, Norway on April 10, 1940, in which the German cruiser Kønigsberg was sunk. This was the first sinking of a major warship by air attack during WW II. Fraser-Harris was credited with a direct hit and subsequently received the Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) and was 'Mentioned in Dispatches'. In a later raid on a shipping and seaplane base at Trondheim, Norway, he was shot down but with the aid of local villagers, he eventually returned to England.

In 1940 Fraser-Harris trained as an instructor and in 1942 he was named Commanding Officer of No. 807 Squadron which flew Seafires off HMS Furious when it embarked on operations in the Mediterranean theatre. He was shot down during a raid on airfields near Oran and soon escaped and rejoined his ship. He was awarded a bar to his D.S.C. on September 22, 1942.

On February 1, 1943 he joined the staff of Naval Air Service as Senior Operations Officer. He assisted in planning the naval air operations in support of the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Later that year he was sent to Cape Town, South Africa as Chief Flying Instructor, where he prepared naval aviators for demanding service in the British Pacific Fleet. He was confirmed as Lt. Commander on August 16, 1945 and appointed Commanding Officer of RNAS Wingfield, which was part of the South African Air Training Plan.

Fraser-Harris transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1946 to assist in the development of its naval aviation program. He joined RCAF station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia as Commanding Officer and oversaw the formal transferal of its air section to the Navy. In July 1948 he was promoted to Acting Captain in Command of the newly created HMCS Shearwater. At age 32 he was the youngest captain in any Commonwealth Navy.

In 1949 he reverted back to Commander in order to attend the US Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. From August 1950 to September 1951 he served as Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMCS Nootka operating in the Korean War theatre, and as senior Canadian Naval officer in the theatre. He was made a Legionnaire of the Legion of Merit (USA) in recognition of his outstanding leadership during the Korean conflict. The citation states: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States, ... By his expert seamanship, sound judgement and inspiring devotion to duty . . . upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service." He was again 'Mentioned in Dispatches'.

In 1951 Fraser-Harris was appointed Commander at HMCS Stadacona at Halifax, Nova Scotia. His next appointment was to Naval Headquarters in Ottawa as Director of Naval Aviation from March 1953 to October 1955. During this critical period he was a driving force in the modernization of the new light fleet carrier HMCS Bonaventure with modifications that included the angled deck, steam catapult and the stabilized mirror landing system which made possible the introduction of jet aircraft. He also was instrumental in acquiring the Grumman Tracker and the Banshee jet fighter for the carrier, and the formation and equipping of HS-50, the new Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron.

The skilled leadership of Fraser-Harris, now Captain, enabled him to make these major changes in the Canadian Naval Aviation inventory. His very strong and dedicated leadership were needed to co-ordinate the many departments involved.

These changes had a profound impact on naval air facilities and required the urgent introduction of a modern aviation safety program. This included improved aircrew safety equipment, a new runway for jet aircraft at HMCS Shearwater and major changes in aircrew and maintenance personnel training. This period also saw the beginning of plans to operate helicopters from destroyers.

The decisions made on Fraser-Harris' watch would shape operations through the remainder of the 1950's and 1960's, a period in which Canadian naval aviation developed into an effective carrier-based anti-submarine force. It was recognized as second to none among the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) maritime forces in the context of the 'cold war' period when the Soviet Union was operating many nuclear weapon equipped submarines.

In 1955, following his service as Director of Naval Aviation, Fraser-Harris attended the National Defence College of Canada and was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Magnificent, the first Canadian naval aviator to command a carrier. He commanded HMCS Magnificent during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956, fulfilling Canada's commitment to United Nations operations in Suez. He also served as Naval Deputy to the Commander of the UN forces sent to Egypt at that time.

Later in 1956 Fraser-Harris was appointed to the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) at Norfolk, Virginia. He served there as Assistant Director Plans until 1960 when he became Director of Naval Ship Requirements at Naval Headquarters in Ottawa. Here he was again to have a major impact on the design of the new helicopter carrying destroyers that were in the advanced planning stage. Upon promotion to Commodore on October 12, 1962, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air and Warfare) where he served until July, 1964.

When plans were being made to unify the Canadian Forces, Fraser-Harris opposed the concept. He argued that multi-role combat vessels with tactical air capabilities could support ground forces on overseas deployments. When centralization preceded, he refused further promotions and retired from the Canadian Navy in April 1965 at the age of 48.

In 1965 he took up a new career in the yachting business as a charter boat skipper in the West Indies. With a Master's ticket, he was called upon to deliver various yachts from the UK for their owners. He built up a successful business as a yacht surveyor, assessing their condition, systems, seaworthiness and suitability.

His flying logbook includes over thirty fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft in which he qualified during a flying career that spanned 35 years. He was a member of NAMS (National Association of Marine Surveyors) and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

In 1985 Fraser-Harris returned to live in Bournemouth, England where he died at the age of 86 on October 19, 2003.

In April 2003 Fraser-Harris was made an Honourary Member of the Canadian Naval Air Group (CNAG), a mark of the respect to which  he was held by all franks in Canadian Naval Aviation. The citation reads:

"In recognition for your outstanding contributions to Canadian Naval Aviation"

Alexander Beaufort Fraser Fraser-Harris was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005 at ceremony held in Edmonton, Alberta.