Leonard Haines

No. 19 Squadron, based at Duxford, was the first unit in the RAF to operate the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, the squadron was mostly engaged in convoy patrols. Haines was promoted to flying officer on 27 May 1940, at which time the squadron was involved in providing aerial cover over Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo.^[6][7] On 1 June, Haines destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter to the north east of the evacuation beaches. He also claimed a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber as probably destroyed in the same area.^[2]

In the weeks after its operations over Dunkirk, the squadron was involved in trials with cannon-equipped Spitfires. This armament proved to be unreliable, and affected the squadron's operations in the early stages of the Battle of Britain. Haines, flying one of the squadron's machine-gun equipped aircraft, shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter to the east of Aldeburgh on 19 August. By the start of September, the squadron had reverted to the standard machine-gun equipment and was regularly flying as part of the Duxford Wing. On 3 September, Haines destroyed a Bf 110 over the Thames Estuary and then two days later shot down a Bf 109 near Chatham. He destroyed a Bf 110 over Gravesend on 11 September. On Battle of Britain Day, 15 September, he destroyed three German aircraft: two Bf 109s and a Bf 110.^[2][6]

Haines shared in the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber over the Thames Estuary on 18 September and, the same day, he probably destroyed a Bf 109 nearby the Isle of Sheppey.^[2] His successes saw him awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in early October, the official announcement being made in The London Gazette. The published citation read:

Flying Officer Haines has destroyed seven enemy aircraft, and assisted in the destruction of another. Twice he has pursued hostile aircraft to France and shot them down. He has shown the utmost courage, tenacity and devotion to duty.

— London Gazette, No. 34964, 8 October 1940^[8]

By this time, the pace of operations had begun to slow but No. 19 Squadron still periodically encountered the Luftwaffe and on 5 November Haines, along with Flying Officer Willie McKnight of No. 242 Squadron, destroyed a Bf 109 over Birchington. With two other pilots he shared in shooting down a Bf 110 east of Harwich on 15 November and at the end of the month, destroyed a Bf 109 near Ramsgate.^[2][9]

At the end of 1940, Haines was posted to No. 53 Operational Training Unit at Heston. He was killed on 30 April 1941 in a flying accident when the Miles Master trainer aircraft he was piloting spun out of control and crashed at Hounslow Barracks in Middlesex. His passenger was also killed. Haines is buried at Hounslow Cemetery.^[1][3][10] At the time of his death, he was credited with having shot down twelve German aircraft, four of which shared with other pilots, and two probably destroyed.^[2] In 2016, his papers, including log books and decorations, were donated to Ball State University, in Indiana, United States.^[11]

• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
• Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.