The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. H N Howes

Harold Norman Howes was born in Gillingham, Kent on 24th December 1915, the son of Walter Charles and Louisa Clara Howes.

He joined the RAFVR about December 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot and was called up on 1st September 1939. He joined 213 Squadron on 7th September and was serving with 85 Squadron in France in May 1940.

On the 20th he damaged a Do17 of KG77 but was then shot down in Hurricane P2555 by Me110s and crash-landed near Abbeville. He was unhurt.

On 18th August 1940 he destroyed two Me110s and damaged a Do17, on the 31st got a probable Do17 and on 1st September he shared another Do17 and damaged a Me109.

Posted to 605 Squadron at Croydon on 12th September, Howes destroyed a Do17 and probably another on the 15th, destroyed a Me109 on 12th October, damaged Me109's on 1st and 2nd November and destroyed two on the 10th and 15th.

He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 25th October 1940).

Howes was shot down by a Me109 on 1st December in Hurricane V6844, he made a crash-landing on Gravesend aerodrome.

He was posted back to 85 Squadron on 9th December 1940 and was killed on the night of the 22nd when he apparently lost control of Hurricane I V6679, perhaps due to icing.

Howes was 24. He is buried in St Margaret's churchyard, Rainham, Kent.