Frederick Alan "Butch" Aikman DFC and Bar (5 March 1919 – 21 March 1991) was a Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of at least nine aircraft.

Biography

Born on 5 March 1919 in Toronto, Canada, Aikman was a clerk and ledger keeper and served as a sergeant in The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 6 November 1940. After graduation from flight training school on 13 September 1941, Aikman was posted overseas to serve with the Royal Air Force.

After a brief period of service with No. 134 Squadron, Aikman joined No. 154 Squadron in early 1942.[1] On 15 July, Aikman was flying as wing man to Wing Commander Paddy Finucane on a sortie to German-occupied France, when the latter was killed as a result of ditching in the English Channel.[2]

No. 154 Squadron moved to North Africa in January 1943, where Aikman achieved the majority of his victories. In February he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).[3] He was hospitalized for malaria on 27 July and repatriated to Canada. He was subsequently awarded a Bar to his DFC, the published citation referring to the destruction of eight aircraft and Aikman's "...rare zest for battle."[4]

After recuperation in Canada, Aikman was retrained to fly Dakotas and reposted overseas on 27 September 1944. Flying with No. 436 Squadron RCAF from 14 November 1944 to 23 September 1945, Aikman was returned to Canada on 23 November 1945, and released from service the following month.[5]

Aikman died in St. Catharines, Ontario, on 21 March 1991 at the age of 72.[6]

Victories

Date # Type Location Aircraft flown Unit assigned Notes
12 November 1942 one Ju.88 destroyed
13 November 1942 one Ju.88 destroyed
16 November 1942 two Savoia half-share in each
22 November 1942 one Ju.88 probably destroyed
28 November 1942 two Do.217 1 destroyed 1 damaged
13 January 1943 one FW.190 destroyed
5 April 1943 one Ju.87 destroyed
5 April 1943 one Bf.109G damaged
10 April 1943 one Bf.109G destroyed
13 April 1943 one Bf.109G damaged
25 April 1943 one Bf.109G destroyed
17 July 1943 one Macchi destroyed (fighter)

Notes

  1. ^ Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 92–93.
  2. ^ Sampson & Franks 2002, p. 39.
  3. ^ "No. 35919". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 February 1943. p. 976.
  4. ^ "No. 36215". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 October 1943. p. 4618.
  5. ^ http://acesofww2.com/can/aces/aikman/ Frederick Alan "Butch" Aikman
  6. ^ http://airforce.ca/awards.php?search=1&keyword=&page=3&mem=&type=rcaf[permanent dead link‍] Air Force Association

References

  • Sampson, Sammy; Franks, Norman (2002). Spitfire Offensive. London: Bounty Books. ISBN 978-0-7537-1558-1.
  • Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Alan_Aikman
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