Harold Atkinson (RAF officer)

He flew in the Battle of France, providing cover for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk.

He achieved a number of aerial victories during this time, which was recognised with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in late June 1940.

His squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain, and Atkinson achieved further successes until he was shot down and killed on 25 August.

On subsequent sorties the same day he damaged a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber and shared in the destruction of a Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft northeast of Arras and Tournai respectively.

[4] Towards the end of the month it helped provide aerial cover over the beaches at Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).

On 29 May, while flying over Nieuport, he claimed the destruction of a He 111 and a share in a damaged Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber, although the former could not be confirmed.

10 Group, in late June and served from here throughout the Battle of Britain on interception duties along the English Channel.

On 18 August, on what is now known as The Hardest Day, the squadron was scrambled in the early afternoon to patrol over St Catherine's Point and possibly assist in the interception of a large Luftwaffe bombing raid that had been detected by radar.

Arriving as German aircraft, having attacked the airfield at Thorney Island, retreated, Atkinson shot down a Bf 109 about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Ventnor.