Date of birth:

January 19th, 1921 (Mount Kisco/New York, United States of America)

Date of death:

July 1st, 2002 (Charlottesville/Virginia, United States of America)

Service number:

82690

Nationality:

American

John Haviland, an American, was born on the 19th of January 1921 in Mount Kisco, New York. He was the son of a US Navy officer and an English mother and spent most of his early life in England, starting school there at the age of five. Haviland went to Nottingham University at 17, was a graduate of the University of London and MIT. He obtained his 'A' Licence and joined the R.A.F.V.R in 1939. He was called up at the outbreak of war and was posted to I.T.W. at Pembroke College, Cambridge in November 1939. After completing his flying training he went to the No 1 School of Army Co-operation, Old Sarum. He volunteered for Fighter Command, was posted to No 6 - O.T.U. Sutton Bridge in August 1940 and after converting to Hurricanes joined No 151 Squadron at Digby on the 23rd of September 1940. The following day, the 24th of September he collided with another Hurricane during formation practice and made a forced-landing in a paddock at Waddington.
After the war he settled in Canada, later becoming a Professor at the School of Engineering, Virginia University in the USA on aerospace projects.

Promotions:
July 27th, 1940: Pilot Officer (commission)
July 27th, 1941; Flying Officer
July 27th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

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• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36942 published on the 13 February 1945
  - The Battle of Of Britain London Monument
  - The Battle of Britain Society