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Operation: Patrol
Date: 1st March 1943 (Monday
Unit: No. 243 Squadron. 324 Wing. 242 Group. Northwest African Tactical Air Force
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: ER724
Code: SN-?
Base: Souk-el-Khemis, Tunisia
Location: Near base
Pilot: Sgt. Colin Campbell Aitken NZ/413006 RNZAF Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
During a patrol over the airfield shot down during an engagement with enemy fighters crashed 4 miles northeast of Souk-el-Khemis at 12:15 hrs.
Burial and personal details:
Buried on the 04th March at Souk-el-Khemis, reinterred after the end of the war.
Sgt. Colin Campbell Aitken. Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery. Grave 10 D 4. Born on the 12th of January 1922 in Scotland. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1926. Worked as a clerk for Government Life Assurance at Gisborne. Enlisted at Levin on the 24th May 1941. After training in Canada awarded his pilot's badge and promoted to sergeant on the 02nd of January 1942. Joined 243 squadron on the 30th June 1942. Involved in a forced landing following an enemy fire on the 08th February 1943 suffering no injuries. Son of Colin Campbell Aitken and of Charlotte Aitken (nee Houston) of Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Later of Gisborne, New Zealand. A total of 320 flying hours logged.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 24-03-2021
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 02 July 2022, 14:32