Sergeant Aikenhead was the rear gunner on 115 Squadron's Vickers Wellington Mk IC (#R1721) - KO-R aircraft, with an aircrew of six, which took off on 12 June from RAF Marham on a night air operation over Hamm, Germany. Due to engine trouble, the pilot of R1721 had to jettison the rest of the bomb load; on the return flight the remaining engine cut out as the Wellington approached the aerodrome and it struck a tree and crashed. Sergeant Aikenhead was the only member of the crew seriously injured; he died of his injuries two days later.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Air Gunner
Service No: 632038
Age: 27
Service: Royal Air Force
Division: 115 Squadron
Son of George and Marion (née Colston) Aikenhead, he was born in Canada, and travelled to the UK with his mother arriving on 17 Jul 1915 onboard the ship 'Metagama'.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Sergeant Aikenhead was the rear gunner on 115 Squadron's Vickers Wellington Mk IC (#R1721) - KO-R aircraft, with an aircrew of six, which took off on 12 June from RAF Marham on a night air operation over Hamm, Germany. Due to engine trouble, the pilot of R1721 had to jettison the rest of the bomb load; on the return flight the remaining engine cut out as the Wellington approached the aerodrome and it struck a tree and crashed. Sergeant Aikenhead was the only member of the crew seriously injured; he died of his injuries two days later.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Air Gunner
Service No: 632038
Age: 27
Service: Royal Air Force
Division: 115 Squadron
Son of George and Marion (née Colston) Aikenhead, he was born in Canada, and travelled to the UK with his mother arriving on 17 Jul 1915 onboard the ship 'Metagama'.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Inscription
(Epitaph...)
"HOW COULD MAN DIE BETTER"
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
