Runnymede Memorial Panel 5
Flight Lieutenant Percy Stevenson Weaver
Date of Birth 1915
Place of Birth Weston, Bath
Air Force Branch Royal Air Force
Rank Flt Lt
Service Number 70719
Awards DFC
Date of Death 31/08/1940
Squadron 56 Sqn
Aircraft type Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 V7378
Location of Memorial Runnymede Memorial Panel 5
Next of Kin Son of Ernest Norman Weaver, and of Katharine H. Weaver, of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
A native of Bath, Percy Weaver joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. After completion of his flying training at No 8 FTS, Montrose he joined No 151 Squadron at North Weald before transferring to 56 Squadron also at North Weald, on September 13th 1937. At the outbreak of war Percy was a member of the North Weald operations room staff holding the rank of Acting Squadron Leader,this was not role he enjoyed. Eventually he managed to transfer back to operational flying shortly before the beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Flt Lt Weaver took off in Hurricane I V7378 at 0820 from Rochester along with seven other Hurricanes from 56 Squadron. He led them to 15,000 feet to patrol Chelmsford as ordered, nearing Chelmsford the squadron sighted the enemy, Flt Lt Weaver led the Hurricanes into attack. During the ensuing dogfight four Hurricanes were destroyed , the pilots of JG26 flying Me 109's made good use of their height advantage. Three of the hurricane pilots baled out safely. Flt Lt Weaver was reported as missing, although it is now believed that his aircraft crashed at Westpoint, Osea Island.
The day following Flt Lt Weaver's death it was announced that he had been awarded the DFC, it was also the day that 56 Squadron was withdrawn from 11 Group to the quieter 10 group area. During the Battle of Britain Flt Lt Weaver was credited with the destruction of seven enemy aircraft and a share in two others. He had visited Chippenham a couple of times, his family had moved to Patterdown shortly before his death.
Place of Birth Weston, Bath
Air Force Branch Royal Air Force
Rank Flt Lt
Service Number 70719
Awards DFC
Date of Death 31/08/1940
Squadron 56 Sqn
Aircraft type Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 V7378
Location of Memorial Runnymede Memorial Panel 5
Next of Kin Son of Ernest Norman Weaver, and of Katharine H. Weaver, of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
A native of Bath, Percy Weaver joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. After completion of his flying training at No 8 FTS, Montrose he joined No 151 Squadron at North Weald before transferring to 56 Squadron also at North Weald, on September 13th 1937. At the outbreak of war Percy was a member of the North Weald operations room staff holding the rank of Acting Squadron Leader,this was not role he enjoyed. Eventually he managed to transfer back to operational flying shortly before the beginning of the Battle of Britain.
Flt Lt Weaver took off in Hurricane I V7378 at 0820 from Rochester along with seven other Hurricanes from 56 Squadron. He led them to 15,000 feet to patrol Chelmsford as ordered, nearing Chelmsford the squadron sighted the enemy, Flt Lt Weaver led the Hurricanes into attack. During the ensuing dogfight four Hurricanes were destroyed , the pilots of JG26 flying Me 109's made good use of their height advantage. Three of the hurricane pilots baled out safely. Flt Lt Weaver was reported as missing, although it is now believed that his aircraft crashed at Westpoint, Osea Island.
The day following Flt Lt Weaver's death it was announced that he had been awarded the DFC, it was also the day that 56 Squadron was withdrawn from 11 Group to the quieter 10 group area. During the Battle of Britain Flt Lt Weaver was credited with the destruction of seven enemy aircraft and a share in two others. He had visited Chippenham a couple of times, his family had moved to Patterdown shortly before his death.
Hawker Hurricanes of 56 Squadron getting airborne from North Weald during 1940. © IWM (CH 158)
Source: CWGC,Men of the Battle of Britain - K Wynn,MIA Resting in Peace - D Sarkar,Ancestry.com, P Weaver,Photo - Clive Lewis.
