William Henry Isaac AtkinsonDSC, CD (22 April 1923 – 18 July 2015) was the highest scoring fighter ace of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War and the last pilot from The Commonwealth to become an ace during the war.[1] Atkinson claimed six aircraft destroyed and two shared. During the war he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and was Mentioned in Despatches. Remaining in the navy after the war he was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration and clasp.
After the war he remained in the Royal Canadian Navy and was eventually promoted to Commander and given command of the destroyerHMCS Haida and the officers training school HMCS Venture before retiring.
HMS Indomitable
William Henry Isaac Atkinson was born on 22 April 1923, and raised at Minnedosa in Manitoba, later moving to Winnipeg.[2] In January 1943, during the Second World War, the 19-year-old Atkinson volunteered to be an aviator with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR).[3]
Having completed his flying training, Atkinson was posted to the Grumman-Hellcat-equipped 1844 Naval Air Squadron aboard the fleet carrierHMSIndomitable, part of the British Pacific Fleet in December 1944. In January 1945, Atkinson's ship was part of the force gathered for Operation Meridian, air strikes on the Japanese held oil installations at Palembang on Sumatra. Their objectives were at Songei Gerong, which had been the East Indies refinery for the Standard Oil Company. The other was at Pladjoe, the former Royal Dutch Shell refinery. Together these plants produced 50 percent of Japan's oil and 75 percent of their aviation fuel. Atkinson took part in the operations on 24 and 29 January.[3]
In April 1945 Atkinson also took part in Operation Iceberg in support of the American assault on Okinawa. The British Pacific Fleet had objectives on the Sakishima Islands and Formosa. During the first raid on Miyako airfield, Atkinson claimed his first victory over a Mitsubishi G4MBetty bomber, but he was only awarded a probable.[4] He was more successful on 6 April, shooting down a Yokosuka D4YJudy dive-bomber.[4] He followed this up with a confirmed Mitsubishi A6MZero fighter and a probable Kawasaki Ki-61Tony fighter shot down on 12 April.[5] His third confirmed victory was over another Betty bomber on 13 April and he shared in the destruction of a Nakajima C6N carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft on 15 April. His total for April was three confirmed, two probables and one shared.[3]
In a follow-up attack on the Sakishima Islands on 21 May, Atkinson's Hellcat was badly damaged by flak. In June Indomitable was withdrawn for a refit, and Atkinson and his squadron were transferred to another fleet carrier, HMSFormidable. On 25 July, while still aboard Formidable, Atkinson and three other pilots were on a night patrol. Two of the aircraft were forced to return to Formidable with mechanical problems. Atkinson and the other pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Mckie, were directed towards a radar contact. The contact was a flight of Aichi B7AGrace torpedo bombers. Atkinson shot down three of them while Mckie got the fourth.[3][6] Atkinson's success led to his being mentioned in despatches and awarded a Distinguished Service Cross "For gallant services in the Pacific. For gallantry, skill and marked devotion to duty in the Far East."[3]
Later career
After the Second World War Atkinson transferred from the RCNVR to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). He became a squadron leader with the RCN, his unit being equipped with the McDonnell F2H Banshee. In 1958 he became the executive officer on the destroyerHMCS Nootka. Promoted to commander in 1962, he was given command of the destroyer HMCS Haida from July 1962 to September 1963. He then commanded the Officer Training School HMCS Venture before retiring from the RCN on 1 September 1973. He subsequently moved to Peachland.[3] Atkinson died in July 2015 at the age of 92.[7]
Canada