Howard Watson was the son of Robert and Margaret Irons Chalmers Watson, Birnam View, Coupar Angus. His father was the Town Clerk of Coupar Angus. Watson was formerly engaged in the Bank of Scotland and enlisted in 1917.
Watson died age 18 whilst training with RAF 64 Training Squadron at RAF Harlaxton Prior to 1 April 1918 RFC Harlaxton), south west of Grantham, Lincolnshire. He is buried at Coupar Angus Parish Churchyard.
Three training squadrons were based at RAF Harlaxton in 1918: 20, 53 and 64 Squadrons – all part of No. 40 Training Depot Station RAF.
On 8 May 1918, during formation flying practice, Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8, B7728 collided near Stamford, Lincolnshire with R.E.8, A4546 of RAF 53 Training Squadron. The crew were:
Lieutenant Arthur Burrell Thorne, age 23, R.E.8, B7728
Second Lieutenant Howard Watson, age 18, R.E.8, B7728
Second Lieutenant Myer Levine, age 18, R.E.8, A4546
THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS 1914 – 1918 (Q 80682) RE8 aircraft number E1114 on the ground. First World War. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205325109
THE SERVICE OF FLYING OFFICE KLYNE WITH THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS AND ROYAL AIR FORCE 1915 TO 1918 (HU 129637) De Haviland 5. Crash, 68th Squadron. Australian Flying Corps. Harlaxton, June 1917. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205396362
THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 11965) Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 (serial number B2258) and a Nieuport Scout (serial number B6821) biplanes at St. Omer Aerodrome at night, 19 December 1917. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205247513
THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 3912) Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 biplane, named ‘Destiny II’, of No. 52 Squadron RFC about to take off. Bray-Dunes – the air station to intercept raiders to and from England. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205091894
THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 11961) Repairing and re-assembling Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 biplanes at No. 1 Aircraft Depot at St. Omer, 19 December 1917. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205247509
The Mist Curtain : RE 8 (16th Squadron) attacked over Lens, 1918 (Art.IWM ART 2659) image: An aerial view of a dogfight over the city of Lens, which is visible below. An RAF RE8 biplane, in the upper right, is under attack from two German biplanes that are further in the distance. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/25020
