Family, friends, and fellow veterans are paying tribute to Reginald “Crash” Harrison, a Second World War veteran who survived several plane crashes and lived to 103. CTV
Friends, family, and aviation historians gathered Saturday to honour Reginald “Crash” Harrison, a Second World War veteran known for his courage, quick thinking, and modest personality. Harrison died on Nov. 20 at the age of 103. Many described him as a man who cared deeply for others and never sought attention for his achievements.
“His demeanour was full of patience and pride and caring for everybody else except himself,” said his friend Brian Swidrovich.
Childhood Dreams Take Flight
Harrison grew up on a farm near Pheasant Forks, northeast of Regina. As a young boy, he watched planes fly overhead while working in the fields. Those early moments sparked a lifelong passion for aviation.
He earned his wings in April 1943 at the age of 20 and soon travelled to Croft, England, where he began flying missions as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Four Crashes and Nineteen Missions
Harrison’s wartime journey became the stuff of legend. He survived four different plane crashes, each one placing him in life-threatening situations.
His first crash came in March 1944. As his crew returned from a mission, a bomb exploded on the runway and set their aircraft on fire. Harrison suffered severe burns but returned to duty only two months later.
In July 1944, one of his engines failed during takeoff. The aircraft struck a stone wall and caught fire, causing its bombs to explode. Rescuers found Harrison unconscious on the wing and managed to pull him to safety.
About a month later, Harrison faced another emergency. Thick clouds forced many bombers to divert, but Harrison’s crew missed the message. Low on fuel and unable to land, he ordered his men to bail out. They wandered the hills of Cumberland until they finally found help at a farmhouse.
Later that year, Harrison flew an Avro Lancaster. On Dec. 1, friendly forces mistook the aircraft for an enemy plane and fired on it. The crew later crash-landed but escaped without serious injuries.
“He says he fooled the Grim Reaper four times,” Swidrovich said. “His commanding officer said, ‘I don’t think you’re going to make it the fifth time. Reg, you better go home.’”
Life After the War
Back in Canada, Harrison met Jean, who became his wife and lifelong partner. They raised a family while he worked nearly 40 years with Veterans Land Service. He spent his free time golfing, curling, and gardening.
In later years, Harrison began sharing stories from his wartime service. Brian Eikel of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum said Harrison offered a rare personal link to a defining moment in history. “He had all these stories,” Eikel said. “He could tell us what it was like on D-Day.”
Harrison earned many honours, including the French Legion of Honour and medals from Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. At age 100, he flew again in a Tiger Moth, the aircraft in which he first trained.
Remembering His Humility
Harrison often spoke about the soldiers who never returned. “The heroes are over there,” he said in a video. “The ones that never came back. Never had a chance to get married, do the things that we did.”
His friends said that humility defined him. “Men like Reg don’t come around very often,” Swidrovich said. Anthony Towstego added, “We will never see the Greatest Generation people like him again.”
