The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C Haigh

Cyril Haigh was born in Rotherham on 19th January 1917, the son of George Leonard Haigh (1880-1963) and Annie Haigh (nee Howarth 1881-1937).

He was educated at Swinton Bridge School and Mexborough Secondary School.

Haigh joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in September 1932 and was in the 26th Entry at RAF Halton, home to No.1 School of Technical Training. He passed out in August 1935 as a Fitter.

He was posted to to Singapore for a year, returning to Tilbury on 16th November 1938 aboard the 'Viceroy of India'.

He then applied for pilot training and was selected.

He remustered as an Airman u/t Pilot on 23rd January 1939 and was on No. 12 Course at 11 FTS Shawbury from 15th April to 23rd October 1939. Haigh joined 92 Squadron at Tangmere direct from the FTS.

He joined 604 Squadron at Northolt on 1st April 1940.

On 15th August 1940, Haigh was returning to Middle Wallop in Blenheim L6610 and engaged enemy aircraft bombing the airfield. He was mistakenly attacked by a Spitfire of 609 Squadron flown by P/O DM Crook.

Crook recorded in his logbook:

'Middle Wallop again bombed. This time by fairly large force of JU88 and Me 110. We shot down 4 Me110 confirmed. A Blenheim attacked the German formation and I shot it down by mistake. Crew OK (save for a cut in rear gunner's bottom) and machine landed at Wallop looking fairly well peppered. Not a very good show'.

On 25th August 1940 he was captain of Blenheim L6782 which crashed near Witheridge, Exeter.

Haigh, Sergeant RGB Fletcher and LAC AL Austin were all killed (report below).

Haigh was 23. He is buried in St. Margarets churchyard, Swinton, Yorkshire.

On 9th October 2000 a memorial plaque was presented to Mexborough School honouring him.