The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. P S Weaver

Percy Stevenson Weaver of Chippenham, Wiltshire was born on 17th February 1915 in Bath, the son of Ernest Norman Weaver and Katharine Hannah Weaver (nee Stephenson).

He attended Dean Close School in Cheltenham then Victoria College, Bath.

On leaving he was employed by de Havilland for three years as a licensed ground engineer.

Weaver joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. He was posted to 8 FTS Montrose on 16th January 1937 and joined 56 Squadron at North Weald on 13th September. He went to the SHQ staff at North Weald on 26th August 1938 but later rejoined 56 Squadron.

On 20th July 1940 Weaver shared in the destruction of a Ju88, on the 29th he claimed a Me109 destroyed, on 12th August a Do17, on the 13th a Me110 destroyed and another damaged, on the 16th shared a Do17, on the 18th a Me110 and a He111 destroyed, on the 24th another He111 and on the 28th a Me109. On this day his aircraft was damaged by return fire from a Do17 over the Thames Estuary and he made a forced-landing at Scocles Farm, Eastchurch.

Weaver was shot down by enemy fighters over Colchester on 31st August. He crashed into the River Blackwater at West Point, Osea Island in Hurricane V7378 and was reported 'Missing' (report below).

He was 25 years old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 5. Weaver was awarded the DFC (gazetted 1st October 1940).

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.