AR banner
Back to Top


RAF Battle of Britain Consolidated Database
3094+ Entries in Database
Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
Check the Databases Menu for the extensive list of our databases which represent decades of original research by our Editors

THIS DATABASE IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Read Search Tips. Corrections and Additions via Helpdesk please
NOTE: KIA = Killed In Action. WIA = Wounded In Action. KIFA = Killed in Flying Accident. = Jewish as per jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Fate In Battle is date of incident between July 10 1940 and October 31 1940. Fate After Battle is date of death after the Battle


The Battle of Britain clasp (worn on the 1939-45 Star – or a silver gilt rosette if medal ribbons only are worn) is restricted to aircrew from 71 defined units
of RAF Fighter Command, Coastal Command or the Fleet Air Arm, who flew at least one operational sortie between 00:01 July 10 1940 and 23:59 October 31 1940.

To see a larger database covering the entirety of WWll, refer to our Allied Losses and Incidents database. This database is the result of research into all known sources of information on the crews which fought the Battle of Britain on the Allied side. It is surprising that for the most significant air battle of WW2, and even after 80+ years, there remains any uncertainty at all about who took part and in some cases, what they did. We have made it our objective to develop this database into a most comprehensive and accurate record which brings to life those heroic deeds. You can help: send corrections and additional information via our Helpdesk.
We believe this database to be among the most useful records extant in terms of its searchability: for example, it is easy to determine all Blenheim crews, or losses on a specific date or the members of a particular squadron.

Readers are referred to the following sites which we have used to cross-check information and we acknowledge and thank them as respected sources for some of the material in this database:
VintageWings.ca: comprehensive listing of artworks
bbm.org: Comprehensive listing of RAF personnel and service records
Wikipedia: Life stories of leading pilots and crew
AircrewRemembered Paradie Canadian Archive Database: 45,000 Service Records of RCAF personnel
AircrewRemembered Allied Losses and Incidents Database: Covering 120,000+ Allied aircrew 1939 - 1945
AircrewRemembered Archiwum: specialist database with details of Polish personnel (in Polish)
AircrewRemembered Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: 31,000 Luftwaffe pilot and crew details
AircrewRemembered LOST: Rob Philips Memorial Archive: Dutch losses in Europe
bel-memorial.org: Comprehensive site on Belgian aircrew


3-character searches are now supported.



If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.
To search on squadron, append 'Sqn'. Examples: '72Sqn' or '416Sqn'

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “"Elkington"”

#Name
SORT (↑)		First NamesRankService No.Air ForceCountry of Origin*SquadronsAwardsAircraftVictoriesFate in BattleFate After BattleDateOfDeath**************Notes**************Photo
1 ElkingtonJohn Francis Durham 'Tim'Plt Off44184British1Sqn

Ushakov Medal (Russia)

Hurricane2WIASurvived warBorn 1920 in Warwickshire. RAF College, Cranwell in September 1939, as a Flight Cadet. 14 July 1940 Elkington received a permanent commission, and the next day he joined 1 Sqd at Northolt. Training with the Northolt Sector Training Flight during the second half of the month and on 27 July made his first operational flight. Got a Bf 109 on 15 August. His combat report for that event read: “I was Green 2 of Squadron 1. When patrolling due east from Martlesham at 10,000 feet, an Me 109 approached me from head-on and to the left 1,000 feet below. The e/a started to climb and turn to the left but I turned sharp left and came in behind him and gave him one short burst with no known effect. I again fired at the e/a from astern as it straightened out and went into a steep climb. I gave it a 2 second burst from astern and above. The engine of the e/a belched fumes and it turned over on its back, staying there for about 2 seconds. I then circled round and saw no one get out.” The next day he was in Flight Sergeant Berry’s section when the squadron was ordered to patrol Portsmouth. A large force of enemy aircraft was encountered and his Hurricane was hit by a cannon shell in the starboard fuel tank and burst into flames. Baled out near the Nab light, east of the Isle of Wight. Berry followed him and with his slipstream he blew Elkington over land at West Wittering. Elkington was taken to hospital at Chichester; his aircraft crashed and burned out at Manor Farm, Chidham. Flight Sergeant Berry, DFM was killed in action on 1 September. He rejoined 1 Sqd on 1 October. He probably destroyed a Ju 88 on the 9th and shared a Do 215 on the 27th. Instructor in April 1941 but joined 601 Sqd in late May, moving in July to 134 Sqd, re-forming for service in Russia. Embarked on HMS Argus and on 7 September flew to the airfield at Vaenga, near Murmansk. During September and early October, 134 took part in bomber escorts and airfield defence. In mid-October it began training Russian pilots on Hurricanes, which were handed over at the end of the month. While in Russia Elkington shared in the destruction of a Ju 88. In mid-November 1941, the squadron pilots began the journey home, making their way in three minesweepers to Archangel and sailing from there in HMS Berwick. Elkington returned in the MV Empire Baffin, carrying minerals as part of Convoy QP 3. He was escorting an injured pilot. Further operational postings, including in India. Returned to the UK in October 1946 and retired from the RAF in December 1975 as a Wing Commander. In 2014 Elkington received the Ushakov Medal from the Russian Ambassador in London.

Injured 1940-08-16 at 13:05hrs when Hurricane I (P3173) shot down over Thorny Island. Surviving aircrew Born 1920


Signed envelope

Results 1 to 1 of 1.