Alfred Haines | |
---|---|
Birth name | Alfred John Haines |
Born | Early 1898 Evesham, Worcestershire, England |
Died | 10 August 1918 (aged 20) Vicinity of Asiago, Italy |
Buried | Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Montecchio Precalcino, Italy 45°39′59″N 11°33′28″E / 45.6665°N 11.5578°E |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1917–1918 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Unit | No. 45 Squadron RFC/RAF |
Battles/wars | World War I • Italian front |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Lieutenant Alfred John Haines DFC (1898 – 10 August 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Haines joined the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet, was appointed a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 14 July 1917,[2] and confirmed in his rank on 26 September.[3]
He was assigned to No. 45 Squadron in Italy, flying the Sopwith Camel. He gained his first victory on 4 February 1918, destroying an Albatros D.V over Susegana. His next did not come until 7 June, when he set two Albatros D.IIIs afire over Arsiera. He then destroyed an Aviatik over Grigno on 23 July; and finally, on the 29th, destroyed two Austro-Hungarian Phönix D.Is over Prata di Pordenone. On 10 August 1918, he was flying at 10,000 feet and took a direct hit from anti-aircraft cannon. His body fell into "no man's land". The Austro-Hungarians returned his body under flag of truce.[4]
He is buried in Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Montecchio Precalcino.[5]
Haines was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted posthumously on 21 September 1918. His citation read: