Background
Born in Mount Kisco, New York, the son of a United States Navy officer and an English mother, Haviland was educated in England from the age of five and was educated at Nottingham University and the University of London.
Born in Mount Kisco, New York, the son of a United States Navy officer and an English mother, Haviland was educated in England from the age of five and was educated at Nottingham University and the University of London.
He was one of 11 American pilots who flew with Royal Air Force Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-1945 campaign star. He joined the Royal Air Force Reserve in July 1939 and was called up for war service in September of the same year. Haviland undertook flying training at Number.
10 Flying Training School and was posted to Number.
1 (Army Company-Operation) Squadron at Old Salisbury near Salisbury. In August 1940 he volunteered to serve with Royal Air Force Fighter Command and, following a conversion course at Number.
6 OTU was posted to Royal Air Force Digby to join Number. 151 Squadron Royal Air Force flying Hurricanes on 23 September 1940.
Haviland was involved in a mid-air collision on 24 September during formation flying practice which resulted in a force-landing in a paddock in the village of Waddington, Lincolnshire.
Haviland would see no further significant action in the Battle of Britain. Haviland served throughout the war, doing tours as an instructor, intruder operations and bomber support. He was awarded the on 16 February 1945, by when he was a Flight Lieutenant flying with Number.
141 Squadron Royal Air Force. After the war he moved to Canada before obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and becoming a professor in engineering in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Virginia, specialising in aerospace projects.