Frederick Alan Aikman

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(1919-03-05)5 March 1919
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died21 March 1991(1991-03-21) (aged 72)
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
AllegianceBritish Empire
Service/branchRoyal Canadian Air Force
Years of service1940–1945
UnitNo. 134 Squadron
No. 154 Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Biography

Born 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
Date#TypeLocationAircraft flownUnit assignedNotes
12 November 1942oneJu.88destroyed
13 November 1942oneJu.88destroyed
16 November 1942twoSavoiahalf-share in each
22 November 1942oneJu.88probably destroyed
28 November 1942twoDo.2171 destroyed 1 damaged
13 January 1943oneFW.190destroyed
5 April 1943oneJu.87destroyed
5 April 1943oneBf.109Gdamaged
10 April 1943oneBf.109Gdestroyed
13 April 1943oneBf.109Gdamaged
25 April 1943oneBf.109Gdestroyed
17 July 1943oneMacchidestroyed (fighter)

References
  1. http://acesofww2.com/can/aces/aikman/ Frederick Alan "Butch" Aikman
  2. http://airforce.ca/awards.php?search=1&keyword=&page=3&mem=&type=rcaf%5B%5D Air Force Association
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