Although Harris was born and raised in the shadow of Cleveland, a beloved part of a sprawling, extended family, he no longer has living parents and only one sibling. He married, but never had children. His wife eventually remarried. Prior to his Army enlistment, he worked as a "clerk or general office" worker.
Parents: Wilhelmina Everett & James Louis Kamis.
Siblings:
Twin A sister Kamis
Twin B sister Kamis
Betty Louise Kamis (Comstock, Meeks)
Russell Bert Kamis
James Louis Kamis
John Machutek
One surviving sibling
He entered the Army Air Force on November 2, 1942 from Enid, Oklahoma. Harris graduated from Army Air Force combat training as part of B-24 Combat Crew 6935 at Caspar Army Air Field, Wyoming, on September 1, 1944. The Kamis Crew was stationed on the Foggia Plain near Bari, Italy during WW II. Since his was a replacement for crews resting between sorties, they flew in many different planes without an assigned plane of their own. Harris was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. The only known member of his B-24 crew still living, his co-pilot, continues to hold Harry in the highest regard as a friend, a pilot, and an officer. They remained friends until Harris' death.
Harris had planned to become a commercial pilot after the War, so in order to keep up his flying hours, he stayed with the AAF as a 1st Lieutenant, the C.O. Pilot of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, flying amphibious OA-10s, also known as PBYs. It was in this capacity that he lost his life during a routine training flight off Makapu Point, O'ahu, Territory Of Hawaii, USA. Seven other men also died in that crash, one half mile off shore. They include the six member crew and two soldiers getting a transport ride. Although the crash was observed as it happened by many people on shore and in the Hickam Field tower, and rescue efforts were launched immediately, no bodies were ever recovered. One plane crew saw a man in the water and dropped a life raft, but with the next pass, the raft and a shark were seen, but not the man. Due to the depth of the water and the sharks in the area, no attempt was ever made to retrieve the airplane. Although the mission of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was to land in the water to effect ocean rescues, the official report blamed the crash on "pilot error" for flying too close to the water. Several eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was already in flames before hitting the water.
Crew, 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron:
1st Lt Harris Kamis
2nd Lt Benjamin F Colson
2nd Lt Vincent G Badolato
Sgt Stanley R Kelley
Cpl Bedford K Metzger Jr
Pfc Riego C Miguel
Passengers:
1st Sgt Joseph G Ritchie
Pfc Richard K Albert
A memorial service was held for Harris in Cleveland on September 29, 1946 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Resources:
* Cleveland Necrology File, Cleveland Public Library
* Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, August 9, 1946, page 1, banner headline article.
* Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, August 20, 1946, page 1, headline article.
* Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records), Kamis, Harris W., ASN 18094222, database found online at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
* Kamis, Harris - Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), US Army Human Resources Command.
* Kamis, Harris - Report of Major Accident, HQ Air Force Historical Research Agency.
* News of the crash was carried in numerous newspapers across the United States on August 8 and August 9, 1946, NewspaperArchive and other online newspaper databases.
* Personal observations and photos from the families of the WW II Kamis Crew co-pilot and radio operator.
* American Battle Monuments Commission, "World War II database".
Parents: Wilhelmina Everett & James Louis Kamis.
Siblings:
Twin A sister Kamis
Twin B sister Kamis
Betty Louise Kamis (Comstock, Meeks)
Russell Bert Kamis
James Louis Kamis
John Machutek
One surviving sibling
He entered the Army Air Force on November 2, 1942 from Enid, Oklahoma. Harris graduated from Army Air Force combat training as part of B-24 Combat Crew 6935 at Caspar Army Air Field, Wyoming, on September 1, 1944. The Kamis Crew was stationed on the Foggia Plain near Bari, Italy during WW II. Since his was a replacement for crews resting between sorties, they flew in many different planes without an assigned plane of their own. Harris was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. The only known member of his B-24 crew still living, his co-pilot, continues to hold Harry in the highest regard as a friend, a pilot, and an officer. They remained friends until Harris' death.
Harris had planned to become a commercial pilot after the War, so in order to keep up his flying hours, he stayed with the AAF as a 1st Lieutenant, the C.O. Pilot of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, flying amphibious OA-10s, also known as PBYs. It was in this capacity that he lost his life during a routine training flight off Makapu Point, O'ahu, Territory Of Hawaii, USA. Seven other men also died in that crash, one half mile off shore. They include the six member crew and two soldiers getting a transport ride. Although the crash was observed as it happened by many people on shore and in the Hickam Field tower, and rescue efforts were launched immediately, no bodies were ever recovered. One plane crew saw a man in the water and dropped a life raft, but with the next pass, the raft and a shark were seen, but not the man. Due to the depth of the water and the sharks in the area, no attempt was ever made to retrieve the airplane. Although the mission of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was to land in the water to effect ocean rescues, the official report blamed the crash on "pilot error" for flying too close to the water. Several eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was already in flames before hitting the water.
Crew, 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron:
1st Lt Harris Kamis
2nd Lt Benjamin F Colson
2nd Lt Vincent G Badolato
Sgt Stanley R Kelley
Cpl Bedford K Metzger Jr
Pfc Riego C Miguel
Passengers:
1st Sgt Joseph G Ritchie
Pfc Richard K Albert
A memorial service was held for Harris in Cleveland on September 29, 1946 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Resources:
* Cleveland Necrology File, Cleveland Public Library
* Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, August 9, 1946, page 1, banner headline article.
* Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, August 20, 1946, page 1, headline article.
* Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records), Kamis, Harris W., ASN 18094222, database found online at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
* Kamis, Harris - Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), US Army Human Resources Command.
* Kamis, Harris - Report of Major Accident, HQ Air Force Historical Research Agency.
* News of the crash was carried in numerous newspapers across the United States on August 8 and August 9, 1946, NewspaperArchive and other online newspaper databases.
* Personal observations and photos from the families of the WW II Kamis Crew co-pilot and radio operator.
* American Battle Monuments Commission, "World War II database".
Although Harris was born and raised in the shadow of Cleveland, a beloved part of a sprawling, extended family, he no longer has living parents and only one sibling. He married, but never had children. His wife eventually remarried. Prior to his Army enlistment, he worked as a "clerk or general office" worker.
Parents: Wilhelmina Everett & James Louis Kamis.
Siblings:
Twin A sister Kamis
Twin B sister Kamis
Betty Louise Kamis (Comstock, Meeks)
Russell Bert Kamis
James Louis Kamis
John Machutek
One surviving sibling
He entered the Army Air Force on November 2, 1942 from Enid, Oklahoma. Harris graduated from Army Air Force combat training as part of B-24 Combat Crew 6935 at Caspar Army Air Field, Wyoming, on September 1, 1944. The Kamis Crew was stationed on the Foggia Plain near Bari, Italy during WW II. Since his was a replacement for crews resting between sorties, they flew in many different planes without an assigned plane of their own. Harris was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. The only known member of his B-24 crew still living, his co-pilot, continues to hold Harry in the highest regard as a friend, a pilot, and an officer. They remained friends until Harris' death.
Harris had planned to become a commercial pilot after the War, so in order to keep up his flying hours, he stayed with the AAF as a 1st Lieutenant, the C.O. Pilot of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, flying amphibious OA-10s, also known as PBYs. It was in this capacity that he lost his life during a routine training flight off Makapu Point, O'ahu, Territory Of Hawaii, USA. Seven other men also died in that crash, one half mile off shore. They include the six member crew and two soldiers getting a transport ride. Although the crash was observed as it happened by many people on shore and in the Hickam Field tower, and rescue efforts were launched immediately, no bodies were ever recovered. One plane crew saw a man in the water and dropped a life raft, but with the next pass, the raft and a shark were seen, but not the man. Due to the depth of the water and the sharks in the area, no attempt was ever made to retrieve the airplane. Although the mission of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was to land in the water to effect ocean rescues, the official report blamed the crash on "pilot error" for flying too close to the water. Several eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was already in flames before hitting the water.
Crew, 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron:
1st Lt Harris Kamis
2nd Lt Benjamin F Colson
2nd Lt Vincent G Badolato
Sgt Stanley R Kelley
Cpl Bedford K Metzger Jr
Pfc Riego C Miguel
Passengers:
1st Sgt Joseph G Ritchie
Pfc Richard K Albert
A memorial service was held for Harris in Cleveland on September 29, 1946 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Resources:
* Cleveland Necrology File, Cleveland Public Library
* Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, August 9, 1946, page 1, banner headline article.
* Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, August 20, 1946, page 1, headline article.
* Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records), Kamis, Harris W., ASN 18094222, database found online at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
* Kamis, Harris - Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), US Army Human Resources Command.
* Kamis, Harris - Report of Major Accident, HQ Air Force Historical Research Agency.
* News of the crash was carried in numerous newspapers across the United States on August 8 and August 9, 1946, NewspaperArchive and other online newspaper databases.
* Personal observations and photos from the families of the WW II Kamis Crew co-pilot and radio operator.
* American Battle Monuments Commission, "World War II database".
Parents: Wilhelmina Everett & James Louis Kamis.
Siblings:
Twin A sister Kamis
Twin B sister Kamis
Betty Louise Kamis (Comstock, Meeks)
Russell Bert Kamis
James Louis Kamis
John Machutek
One surviving sibling
He entered the Army Air Force on November 2, 1942 from Enid, Oklahoma. Harris graduated from Army Air Force combat training as part of B-24 Combat Crew 6935 at Caspar Army Air Field, Wyoming, on September 1, 1944. The Kamis Crew was stationed on the Foggia Plain near Bari, Italy during WW II. Since his was a replacement for crews resting between sorties, they flew in many different planes without an assigned plane of their own. Harris was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. The only known member of his B-24 crew still living, his co-pilot, continues to hold Harry in the highest regard as a friend, a pilot, and an officer. They remained friends until Harris' death.
Harris had planned to become a commercial pilot after the War, so in order to keep up his flying hours, he stayed with the AAF as a 1st Lieutenant, the C.O. Pilot of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron, flying amphibious OA-10s, also known as PBYs. It was in this capacity that he lost his life during a routine training flight off Makapu Point, O'ahu, Territory Of Hawaii, USA. Seven other men also died in that crash, one half mile off shore. They include the six member crew and two soldiers getting a transport ride. Although the crash was observed as it happened by many people on shore and in the Hickam Field tower, and rescue efforts were launched immediately, no bodies were ever recovered. One plane crew saw a man in the water and dropped a life raft, but with the next pass, the raft and a shark were seen, but not the man. Due to the depth of the water and the sharks in the area, no attempt was ever made to retrieve the airplane. Although the mission of the 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was to land in the water to effect ocean rescues, the official report blamed the crash on "pilot error" for flying too close to the water. Several eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was already in flames before hitting the water.
Crew, 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron:
1st Lt Harris Kamis
2nd Lt Benjamin F Colson
2nd Lt Vincent G Badolato
Sgt Stanley R Kelley
Cpl Bedford K Metzger Jr
Pfc Riego C Miguel
Passengers:
1st Sgt Joseph G Ritchie
Pfc Richard K Albert
A memorial service was held for Harris in Cleveland on September 29, 1946 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Resources:
* Cleveland Necrology File, Cleveland Public Library
* Honolulu Advertiser, Friday, August 9, 1946, page 1, banner headline article.
* Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Tuesday, August 20, 1946, page 1, headline article.
* Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records), Kamis, Harris W., ASN 18094222, database found online at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA).
* Kamis, Harris - Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), US Army Human Resources Command.
* Kamis, Harris - Report of Major Accident, HQ Air Force Historical Research Agency.
* News of the crash was carried in numerous newspapers across the United States on August 8 and August 9, 1946, NewspaperArchive and other online newspaper databases.
* Personal observations and photos from the families of the WW II Kamis Crew co-pilot and radio operator.
* American Battle Monuments Commission, "World War II database".
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