Harry Broadhurst

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See also Henry Broadhurst for the trade unionist and politician

Harry Broadhurst
28 October 1905 – 29 August 1995
Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst
Nickname	Broady
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1925 – 1961
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Battles/wars	World War II

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

Sir Harry Broadhurst was the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command from 22 January 1956 to 20 May 1959.

Broadhurst saw action as a young pilot in 1928 with 11 Squadron RAF, flying Hawker Harts to shoot troublesome tribesmen on the Indian North West Frontier. Back in England in 1936, as a Flight Lieutenant, ageing but now with a permanent commission, he was personally congratulated by the king on his aerobatic showing in the Gloster Gauntlet.

Broadhurst had an outstanding World War 2 career, receiving the DSO and DFC, and advancing from Squadron Leader to Air Vice Marshal. In 1956, at the peak of his career as head of Bomber Command, his reputation suffered following an accident to an Avro Vulcan. The aircraft struck the ground while attempting to land at Heathrow; the pilot, Squadron Leader “Podge” Howard, managed to continue flying but not to regain control. The aircraft had only two ejector seats, occupied by Howard and Broadhurst. They decided to eject, and survived, leaving the remaining four on board to wait for death in the pilotless aircraft.