Frederick Alan "Butch" Aikman DFC and Bar (5 March 1919 – 21 March 1991) was a Canadian World War II fighter pilot and flying ace with the Royal Air Force, credited with 9.5 victories.
Frederick Alan Aikman | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Butch |
Born | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 5 March 1919
Died | 21 March 1991 St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada | (aged 72)
Allegiance | British Empire |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Years of service | 1940–1945 |
Unit | No. 134 Squadron No. 154 Squadron |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
Biography
editBorn on 5 March 1919, 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. He joined No. 154 Squadron on 6 January 1942. The squadron moved to North Africa in January 1943, where Aikman achieved his victories before being hospitalized for malaria on 27 July. After the 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.[1]
Aikman died in St. Catharines, Ontario, on 21 March 1991 at the age of 72.[2]
Victories
editDate | # | 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) |
References
edit- ^ http://acesofww2.com/can/aces/aikman/ Frederick Alan "Butch" Aikman
- ^ http://airforce.ca/awards.php?search=1&keyword=&page=3&mem=&type=rcaf[permanent dead link ] Air Force Association