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Atkinson, Harold Derrick

    Date of birth:
    August 19th, 1918 (Wintringham/Yorkshire, Great Britain)
    Date of death:
    August 25th, 1940 (Portland/Southwest England, Great Britain)
    Buried on:
    Commonwealth War Graves Market Weighton Cemetery
    Row: 1R. Grave: 7.
    Service number:
    33418
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Harold Atkinson was born in Wintringham on August 19th, 1918 as the son of Fred and Adalaide Jane Atkinson. He attended the Shrewsbury School from 1932 until 1937. In 1937 he went to the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell. He was stationed with No. 213 Squadron in 1939 and went to France in May 1940. After the fall of France he returned to England. During an aircombat over Warmwell on August 25th, 1940 he was shot down and crashed in to the sea with his Hawker Hurricane P3200.
    His body was recovered.
    Harold Arkinson was credited with shooting down 9 enemy planes, 2 unconfirmed and one shared victory.

    Bevorderingen:
    ?: Flight Cadet;
    July 29th, 1939: Pilot Officer;

    Loopbaan:
    1937: Royal Air Force College, Cranwell;
    1939: No. 213 Squadron.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Pilot Officer
    Unit:
    No. 213 (Ceylon) Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    June 25th, 1940
    Citation:
    "During May 1940, Pilot Officer Atkinson shot down two enemy aircraft and assisted in shooting down two others. Later, in the Dunkerque area, this officer shot down another two enemy aircraft and assisted in destroying two more. He has shown a high standard of skill and determination in attacking the enemy, frequently against vastly superior numbers."
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

    Sources

    • Photo 1: Paul Everingham
    • - The London Gazette of 19th September 1939, Issue 34687
      - The London Gazette of 3rd October 1939, Issue 34700
      - The London Gazette of 25th June 1940, Issue 34881
      - Find a Grave

    Photo