Sgt. Earl Hector Atkins
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 257 Burma Squadron
from:Ottawa, Ontario Canada
(d.24th Feb 1941)
My Uncle, Earl Atkins, was the first born into a loving family that would eventually come to have 12 brothers & sisters. He was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed hiking, swimming, and body building from an early age. At the age of 21 he decided to make the journey to England to help in the war effort by signing up in the R.A.F.V.R. A brief synopsys of his journey- Jan 16.1917 -he was born at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 10,1939 - Sailed from Montreal, Quebec, with buddy, Lloyd Farrow, for England on the SS Delilian,(a cattle boat) as a "Cattleman" of the Donaldson Line. It took 10 days sailing to cross the Atlantic. September 6,1939 - Enlisted in the R.A.F.V.R, as A/C 2 -Aircraft Hand U/T August 17 to November 4,1940 - Flying training a No.9 Flying Training School. Passed the course with an average of 80.8%. January 30,1940 - Reclassified to L.A.C. U/T Pilot R.A.F.V.R. November 2, 1940 - Sergeant pilot, authorized to wear his "Wings" November 15,1940 - Discharged on appointment to temporary "commission" to R.A.F.V.R. for duration of "hostilities". Posted to R.A.F. Coltishall, 257 Burma Squadron under Squadron Leader Robert Roland Stanford-Tuck. February 24, 1941 - Went missing over the English Channel, whilst engaging a Junkers 88.
