Harry was born on 8 June 1911 in Wandsworth to Austrian born Joseph and Esther née Sonnschein. Joseph and Esther became naturalised British citizens and initially owned an incandescent gas light fittings company before becoming the owners of an enamelled hardware company. In 1939, the family were living at 19 Hampstead Way, Hendon and Harry was working as the warehouse foreman. Harry had one brother Mark who also served in the RAF and married Phyllis Hirschfield.

Sergeant Harry Kleiner (1911-1943) – Amersham Museum

Harry was the flight engineer of Lancaster ED970 which departed from RAF Scampton on a night operation to Dortmund. The aircraft was homebound when it was intercepted over the North Sea and shot down by a night fighter. Three bodies were washed ashore the other four were never found.

Pilot Sgt. A.R. Leslie 155139.
Flight engineer Sgt. H. Kleiner, buried Leeuwarden, washed up 10 Aug 43.
Nav, P/O. J.R. Morton 129500
Bomb aimer, Sgt. F. Hemingway 1392967
W/Op A/G, Sgt. A.K. Henderson 1125769
A/G, Sgt. P. Daly 551847 Buried Nes Ameland, washed up Ameland 25 Jun 43.
A/G, Sgt. W.J. Bennett 927900, buried Terschelling, washed up Terschelling 24 Jun 43.