Henry Michael Ferriss was born in London on 1 August 1917. In July 1937 he joined the RAF on a short service commission and was sent to No.6 Flying Training School at Netheravon to begin his training on 18 September. On 10 July 1940, the opening day of the Battle of Britain, Ferriss was flying Hurricane P3459 on an afternoon patrol. He shared in the destruction of a Do 17 with other members of his Squadron and then shot down a Bf 109 of JG 3 off Folkestone. In return his own aircraft was damaged by 109s that attacked him from astern. He managed to evade his attackers and got back to Croydon, where, despite a splinter in his leg, he climbed into a different Hurricane and took off again to join the fight. At 1245 hours on 16 August, Ferriss attacked a formation of Dornier 17s in a head-on attack over Marden but he collided with one of the enemy bombers. Ferriss was killed and his Hurricane R4193 crashed on Sheephurst Farm.
Summary
It would have been suicide to stay and fight
