Haine, Richard Cummings

Bristol Blenheim

Date of birth:: October 6th, 1916 (St. Stephens/Gloucestershire, Great Britain)
Date of death:: September 30th, 2008 (Ipswich/East Anglia, Great Britain)
Service number:: 580010/43147
Nationality:: British

Biography

Promotions:
?: Sergeant;
April 1st, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation;
?: Pilot Officer;
?: Flying Officer on probation;
April 1st, 1941: Flying Officer;
Novewmber 25th, 1941: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.);
?: Acting Squadron Leader;
November 1st, 1947: Flight Lieutenant (seniority September 1st, 1945);
June 1st, 1948: Squadron Leader.

Career:
?: Crypt Grammar School;
?: Gloster Aircraft Company;
1935: Royal Air Force;
?: No. 25 Squadron;
February 1st, 1940: No. 600 (City of London) Squadron;
January 1944: Commanding Officer No. 488 (RNZAF) Squadron;
?: No. 302 Wing;
1948: Central Fighter Establishment;
?: Staff Officer Ministry of Aviation;
September 1964: Commanding Officer RAF Lindholme.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Pilot Officer on probation
Awarded on:: July 9th, 1940

Hayne was as pilot of a Bristol Blenheim from No. 600 Squadron ordered to attack Waalhaven airport in May 1940, together with five other Blenheims of his squadron. Their objectives were the many Junkers Ju 52 planes and airborne troops on the airfield. When he attacked the field and set a Junkers on fire, he tried to pull up for another attack. At that moment he was himself attacked by German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. His gunner managed to shoot one of the fighters down, but one of his own engines was on fire. Haine managed to crash-land his plane. He and his gunner contacted the Dutch Army and arrived in The Hague two days later. Here they were transported to England on the same ship, H.M.S. Hereward, which transported the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina to Harwich. He was awarded the DFC for his actions over Holland.

The joint (with Pilot Officer M. Kramer) recommendation states:
‘Pilot Officers Kramer and Haine were air gunner and pilot in one of six aircraft which attacked Rotterdam aerodrome on 10th May, 1940. Immediately after attacking aircraft on the ground, they were themselves attacked by six enemy fighters. The rear gun turret operating mechanism had been disabled and the gun itself became jammed, but Pilot Officer Kramer calmly directed his pilot how best to evade the attack of the enemy fighters and at the same time dismantled and repaired his gun and succeeded in driving off the enemy.
By the coolness of Pilot Officer Kramer and the accurate information he gave, pilot Officer Haine with great skill succeeded in bringing his badly damaged aircraft to a position where he was able to make a forced landing in friendly territory.’

LG 34892/4177.

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Squadron Leader
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1943

LG 35841/38.

1939-1945 Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

With "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp.

Air Crew Europe Star

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

With "FRANCE AND GERMANY"clasp.

Defence Medal 1939-1945

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

War Medal 1939-1945

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Group Captain
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1962

Sources

- The London Gazette of 7th May 1940, Issue 34844
- The London Gazette of 9th July 1940, Issue 34892
- The London Gazette of 23rd May 1941, Issue 35171
- The London Gazette of 31st March 1942, Issue 35508
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th December 1942, Issue 35841, dated 1st January 1943
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 9th January 1948, Issue 38175, dated 13th January 1948
- Supplement to The London Gazette of 10th September 1948, Issue 38401, dated 14th September 1948
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42552/page/9
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