Michael Courthope Haynes

Michael Courthope Haynes

Ancestry accessed 14 Apr 2020
Personal Information
Date of Birth	11 Dec 1920
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	1 Jul 1942
Place of Death	Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 4 months
Description	5'7½" (1.71m) tall ; 119lbs 53.977 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair ; scars on left calf
Occupation	Architectual draftsman
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Kilbrae', Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Walter Alexander Birrell Haynes
Military Information
Reg Number	406861
Date of Enlistment	28 Apr 1941
Rank	Leading Aircraftman
Unit/Formation	No. 22 Service Flying Training School, Southern Rhodesia
Post War Details
Fate	Accidental flying death
Monument(s)	Armadale War Memorial WA State War Memorial
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Michael had attended the State School in Armadale from 1929 until 1935 when he progressed to Hale School in Perth for 1936 to 1938 achieiving bothe the Junior and Leaving Certificates. He was working withthe Public Works Department in Perth as an Architectural Draftsman.

War Service

Michael had prior service as a member of the 10th Light Horse Regiment from August 1940 until April 1941 before being discharged in order to enlist in the RAAF. This he did at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 28 Apr 1941, and was posted to No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF having been mustered as Air Crew V. Having completed training, on 21 Jun 1941 he was promoted to Leading aircraftman Air Crew II(P) and sent to the No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF where he was granted 12 days sick leave from 18 Aug 1941 until 29 Aug 1941. On 9 Sep 1941 he was detached to the RAF to join the Empire Training Scheme and embarked in Fremantle the same day for South Africa, disembarking on 31 Oct 1941. He would have then travelled by rail to Southern Rhodesia and his records list a posting to I.T.W. Byo from 12 Nov 1941 until 2 Jan 1942.

On 2 Jan 1942 Michael joined the No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School, Southern Rhodesia to undertake a 6 week training course at Guinea Fowl, Gwelo in Rhodesia. Training completed he transferred on 2 Mar 1942 to No. 22 Service Flying Training School, Southern Rhodesia to continuing his flying training. However, on 1 Jul 1942 he was killed in a flying accident.

Court of Inquiry re accident involving Aircraft Harvard Mk II & Harvard Mk I. The accident occurred on 1/7/42 about 4 miles SSWof Guinea Fowl Selukwe. Flight was authorised and instructions were - Formation of 5 aircraft above 3,000 feet. Take of and land independantly. Staight and level and medium turns only. Accident was due to an errorof judgement on the part of either abovenamed airman of A.S.U. Gosden (or both) and also inexperience. Unauthorised changing of formation may have contributed to the accident happening. The Officer Commanding is of the opinion that the primary cause of the accident was due to disobediance of orders, coupled with the fact that the pilots concerned in the formation had only a vague idea of the meaning of the signals made by the leader for a change of formation. The seconday cause was due ot hte confusion that arose after the last change of formation which resulted in a collision between No. 4 and 5 aircraft.

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  Plot 4; Row B; Grave No. 3

External Links

Michael Courthope Haynes

Headstone Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Additional Names	Christopher John Lyall
Transcription	In Loving Memory of Christopher John beloved son of Norman and Mary Lyall. Aged 20 months. And of Michael Courthope Haynes. Called to a higher service 1942

Early Life

Michael Courthope was born on 11 December 1920 in Perth. Michael was the son of Walter Alexander Birrell Haynes and Margaret Julia Haynes (nee Courthope).

Death

Michael died on 1 January 1942 in an aircraft accident whilst in Rhodesia. He was 22 years old.

Notes

Michael has a commemorative plaque at St Marys. Michael was buried at Gweru Cemetery, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Africa.