Staff Sergeant Luke Morris Haines U.S. Army Air Forces [June 26, 1914 - April 13, 1944] was born to William “Bill” B. Haines [April 17, 1860 - October 6, 1933] and Alma (Craft) Haines [June 30, 1887 - December 18, 1954] and is believed to have been born in Colorado County, Texas.  The Haines family was living at Eagle Lake, Colorado County in 1910 and by 1920 had moved to Matagorda County.  In 1930 they are living in Houston, Harris County, and then they returned to Bay City c.1931.  His obituary states he attended Bay City High School.  Before going into the military he worked for the Bay City Water Department and was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department. He was working for the City of Wharton when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air force in September 1942.  At the time of his death he was assigned to 789th Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force at Rackheath Airfield, England.  His unit arrived in England in the spring of 1944 and entered it’s first combat on April 10, 1944, with an attack on the German airfield at Bourges.  On Luke’s first mission on April 13, 1944 his squadron was enroute to bomb the German airfield at Lechfeld,  when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft gun fire.  The aircraft caught fire and the crew bailed out.  Five of the ten man crew were not injured, four were injured, the nine were captured by the Germans and became POWs.  Luke, who was in the belly ball turret, was checked by two crew members in the aircraft before they bailed out, and both verified he was dead from a neck wound.  The plane crashed near Ruelshaim, Germany.  He was first interred in Germany, then at the wars end he was moved to Saint Avold (Permanent Cemetery) Saint Avold, France which is today called the Lorraine American Cemetery, He is located in Plot K, Row 26, Grave 34. He was survived by his Mother Mrs. Alma Haines of Bay City; three brothers George, Preston and Billie; and one sister, Mrs. Ruth Gray.
 

LUKE M. HAINES IS MISSING IN ACTION OVER GERMANY

Was Employed By City Prior To Induction Air Force

Mrs. Alma M. Haines, 1221 8th St., received a message from the War department Friday morning at 9:00, announcing that her son, S/Sgt Luke M. Haines, has been missing in action over Germany since April 13.

S/Sgt Haines is well known in Bay City where he was employed by the city in the water department and where he belonged to the fire department. A native of Matagorda county, he attended Bay City high school.

He was serving with the air force of the U. S. Army and had completed his training for turret gunner, leaving the United States only about one month ago. His last letter was received by his mother April 4.

Sgt Haines has two uncles in Bay City, Frank and H. G. Craft, a sister and brothers in Houston.  
                                                   
The Daily Tribune, Friday, April 28, 1944
 

Luke Haines Is Reported Killed Over Germany

Word was received today by Mrs. Alma Haines, mother of Staff Sergeant Luke Haines, that Sgt. Haines, 29 years of age, had been killed over Germany, April 13th. He had been reported missing since that date but confirmation of his death had not been made until today when Mrs. Haines received the sad message.

Sgt. Haines was employed by the city of Bay City for several years. Prior to his induction, however he was employed by the city of Wharton. He entered the armed service in September 1942. He was a ball turret gunner on a Liberator. He had been in the European Theatre about two months.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Alma Haines, three brothers, George of Bay City, Preston and Billie of Houston; one sister, Mrs. George Gray, of Houston.

The Daily Tribune, Monday, Oct. 30, 1944
 

View of Lorraine American Cemetery while still under construction.
 

Funeral Services Held Monday For Mrs. Alma Haines

Funeral services for Mrs. Alma Haines, 67, of 1221 Eighth St., were held Monday morning at 10 from Taylor Bros. Funeral Home with Mr. H. A. Lawrence of the Church of Christ officiating. Graveside services at the Hollywood Cemetery in Houston were conducted at 2 o'clock by Mr. Max T. Neil.

Mrs. Haines died Saturday evening at 10:47.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. George Gray of Houston; three sons, Billy, George and Preston Haines, all of Bay City. One brother, Frank Craft of Bay City, also survives.

The Daily Tribune, Tuesday, December 21, 1954

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Herb Clark #32231740
 

N. B. Haines*

N. B. Haines a former resident of Bay City died at his home at 2201 Crockett Street, Houston at six o’clock Friday morning.  He is survived by his wife Mrs. Alma Craft Haines, four sons, George of Bay City, Preston, Billy and Luke and a daughter Ruby all of Houston.  A daughter Ruth, preceded him to the grave a year ago.
 

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the O. E. S. of this city.  Services were conducted by the Masonic order of Houston this morning, Saturday, with burial in Hollywood Cemetery.

*This is a newspaper typo – Mr. Haines name is William B. Haines

The Matagorda County Tribune Thursday, October 12, 1933

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Herb Clark #32231740

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved