Flight Sergeant George Charles Percival Haines – Royal
Air Force, 82 Squadron
Birth and Family Background
 |
| George Charles Percival Haines |
George Charles Percival Haines was born in
1920
at
Swansea. He was the son of
Percy Artemas Haines and
Louisa Thomas, who were married in
1918 at
Swansea.
 |
| 1921 Census |
The
1921 Census records
George living with his
grandmother at
Ash Cottage, Dillwyn, Sketty. The head of the household
was
Ruth Thomas (62), widowed, who undertook
household duties.
Also present was her
Lancashire-born daughter, Louisa Thomas (28),
likewise engaged in domestic duties, and her grandson
George Charles
Percival Haines (1).
 |
| 1939 Register |
By the time of the
1939 Register, the Haines family
were residing at
St David’s, Rotherslade Road.
Percy, recorded as
Percival A., was employed as a
general foreman at a canning factory,
while
Louisa undertook
domestic duties. Also present was
John
H. C., employed as a
bank clerk.
George Charles Percival Haines
does not appear on the register, consistent with his service in the armed
forces by this date.
Royal Air Force Service
 |
| RAF Watton, Norfolk |
George Charles Percival Haines served with the
Royal
Air Force, attaining the rank of
Flight Sergeant. He was posted to
No.
82 Squadron RAF, which was based at
RAF Watton,
Norfolk.
 |
| Bristol Blenheim Mk IV |
He flew operationally as a
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner,
crewing
Bristol Blenheim Mk IV aircraft. During this period, No. 82
Squadron was heavily engaged in
anti-shipping strikes over the
North
Sea, attacking German coastal convoys supplying occupied Europe. These
operations were exceptionally dangerous, with aircraft exposed to intense enemy
fighter opposition and anti-aircraft fire.
The South Wales Daily Post, reporting on 24th
October 1941, stated that George had already seen extensive service
during the Battle of France, reflecting his experience as an operational
airman earlier in the war.
Death, Missing Status, and Commemoration
On 21st October 1941, while taking part in
an anti-shipping strike, Flight Sergeant George Charles Percival
Haines was killed when his Blenheim IV was shot down by a German
Bf 109 fighter. The aircraft was lost off the coast of Katwijk aan Zee,
while attacking a convoy approximately ten miles off IJmuiden, in the Netherlands.
 |
| South Wales Daily Post |
The
South Wales Daily Post of
24th October 1941 initially reported George as
missing,
a common status for aircrew lost over the sea. With no recovery of the aircraft
or crew, he was later officially presumed killed.
 |
George Charles Percival Haines
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey
|
Flight Sergeant George Charles Percival Haines has no known grave, and his name is
commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, which honours airmen of
the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth forces who died during the Second World
War and whose burial places are unknown
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