W/Cmdr H. Broadhurst, known throughout the RAF as 'Broady', became one the 'characters' of the RAF in WW2 as well it's youngest Air Vice Marshal when he took command of the Western Desert Air Force.

Harry was born on 28th October 1905 at Frimley, Surrey.
Having attended Portsmouth Grammar School from 1915, Harry left to become an articled pupil to a surveyor.
In 1925, prevented joining the RAF by his father; a retired Army officer, Harry joined the Territorial Army. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.
Here he was able to get his C.O. to sign his application for secondment to the RAF in October 1926, as he was still under age at the time.

In 1926 Harry transferred to the RAF and on 1st October was posted to 11 Squadron at Netheravon, under instruction.
In 1931, Harry was 'Mentioned in Dispatches' for operations on the North West Frontier.

Returning to Britain, Harry joined 41 Squadron at Northolt on 16th September 1931, flying the Bristol Bulldog, where his reputation began to grow with the excellent team and solo aerobatics displays he performed at the Hendon Pageants. He was also recognised as a fine marksman, winning the Sassoon Trophy (for air-to-air firing) three years in a row.

Harry went to RAF Calshot on 18th September 1933.

Joining 19 Squadron at Duxford on 26th November 1934, Harry quickly continued to build his reputation as a great leader when he led the squadron's display team of five Bulldogs. In 1936, the squadron re-equipped with the Gloster Gauntlet and he continued to lead the squadron's display team with this latest aircraft.

Harry was awarded the AFC on 1st February 1937.

On 2nd September 1937, he was appointed to the Personnel Staff of 2 (Bomber) Group at Andover, and left there on 24th January 1938 for a course at RAF Staff College, Andover.

In January 1939, Harry took command of 111 Squadron at Northolt.

Harry was awarded the DFC on 2nd January 1940 for taking off alone in very bad weather conditions to intercept an approaching enemy aircraft. On 29th November, 1939, Harry spotted an Heinkel 111 behind a cloud bank. Giving chase he closed to 500 yards when the bomber dived for cloud but Harry maintained the chase, silenced the ventral gunner, closed to 150 yards and sent the Heinkel spiralling into the ground.

During the Battle of Britain, Harry flew operational sorties with 111 Squadron.

Promoted to Wing Commander in early 1940, Harry was given command of the new fighter station at Coltishall in Norfolk.  However, with no squadrons stationed there, when a call for experienced squadron commanders to go to France was put out, he volunteered and found himself dropping a rank in command of 85 Squadron.  Reporting to his Wing Commander, Wing Commander Jack Boret, he found that the Wingco had suffered a nervous breakdown and therefore he found himself back as a Wing Commander in command of 60 (Fighter) Wing. 

On his return from France, Harry was asked by ACM Sir Hugh Dowding to tour airfields in No's 12 and 13 Groups to talk to the pilots about the lessons being learnt over France, following which he was appointed Station Commander at RAF Wittering.

On 23rd December 1940, Harry took command of RAF Hornchurch and apart from a few weeks in October - November 1941, he held the post until May 1942.
Harry continued to fly during this command, but on 4th July, 1941, his WW2 career could have almost come an end. Leading 54 Squadron, he was involved in a number of skirmishes with Bf109's, downing two when he himself was hit and his aircraft badly damaged. Recovering from a spin at 1,000ft he decided to attempt the flight home but over Cap Griz Nez he was hit again, this time by flak. However, he managed to coax his Spitfire back to base executing a prefect belly landing. 

Harry was awarded to DSO on 4th July 1941, and a Bar on 19th December. The citation credited him for the destruction of twelve enemy aircraft destroyed and probably another four.

On 19th August 1942, Harry flew during the Raid on Dieppe, spending some eight hours in the area, during which time he destroyed an enemy fighter. For this action he was awarded a Bar to the DFC on 29th September 1942.

Harry was posted to the Middle East as SASO to AOC Western Desert in late 1942. He took over as AOC Allied Air Forces, Western Desert in 1943.

Harry commanded 83 Group Expeditionary Air Force in 1944-45.

Harry retired from the RAF on 1st March 1961 as Air Chief Marshal.

Harry Broadhurst was an outstanding shot, and emphasized on the pilots in his charge as Flight Commander, "that the key to shooting was to get in close, and the closer you got, the more chance you had of hitting." In pre-war days, when aircraft were still equipped with simple ring sight, Harry taught his charges to work out the distance of the target by measuring it against the diameter of the circle. At 400 yards, a bomber the size of a Wellington exactly filled the sight. At 250 yards, the ring was just outboard of the two engines. It was simple and effective, but was never taught systematically.

As well as gallantry awards, Harry was a GCB (1960) (KCB 1955, CB 1944) KBE (1945), Knight Grand Cross of Order of Orange Nassau, Legion of Merit (U.S.).