Edward Dawson Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Captain Edward Dawson Atkinson was a World War I flying ace
credited with a total of 10 aerial victories, won while serving in three different squadrons during World War I. He would serve postwar until invalided out of the Royal Air Force. He then turned to a business career.
. He became an officer in the 40th Pathans
of the British Indian Army
.
Edward Dawson Atkinson of the 40th Pathans
was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate no. 2145 after training at the London and Provincial School, Hendon.
On 25 January 1917, he was already a Pilot Officer
; on that date, he was appointed Flight Commander and acting captain. Two months later, on 25 March, while serving in No. 1 Squadron on the Western Front
, he used a Nieuport
to destroy a German observation balloon
. He drove down two enemy planes in April, an Albatros D.II
fighter on the 22nd and an Albatros reconnaissance craft on the 29th. He would not score again for over a year.
Atkinson was reassigned to 56 Squadron, which was equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. On 3 May 1918, in conjunction with William Roy Irwin
and Trevor Durrant, he destroyed a Rumpler
in one dogfight, and drove another down out of control 20 minutes later. Atkinson was now an ace.
A transfer to 64 Squadron quickly ensued. Still flying a SE.5a, Atkinson ran off a string of five more victories during the last week of May 1918. His final count came to a balloon and four enemy planes destroyed, and five more enemy planes driven down out of control while he was in France.
On 2 July 1918, Atkinson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits. It would be announced in the London Gazette on 3 August 1918:
A brilliant fighting pilot whose flight has proved very successful under his leadership, often in combats where the enemy formation was numerically superior. Capt. Atkinson destroyed single-handed five enemy machines during May, and previously, whilst serving with another squadron, he brought down two enemy aeroplanes and one balloon.
Shortly thereafter, on 1 January 1924, he was promoted to Squadron Leader
. On 25 May 1924, he was given command of 1 Squadron in Iraq.
He then returned to England; on 2 April 1926 to he was posted to RAF Uxbridge
as a transfer to Home Establishment. He was still tasked as Commanding Officer of 1 Squadron before November 1926, when it was drawn down from Iraq in cadre status, and then returned to England; it is unknown whether this was a continuing appointment or a reappointment.
He was the CO again (or still) on 11 April 1927, in time to lead 1 Squadron for maneuvers in late July and early August 1927.
On 2 January 1928, he was again posted to RAF Uxbridge. On 1 September 1928, he was posted to No. 21 Group RAF HQs, RAF West Drayton
.
On 1 August 1930, he was once again posted to RAF Uxbridge.
On 21 October 1930, Atkinson was placed on half pay, Scale A. He remained in this status until 16 March 1931, when he was restored to full pay and posted to No. 10 Group RAF
HQs at RAF Lee-on-Solent.
On 18 January 1932, Edward Dawson Atkinson was invalided into retirement from the Royal Air Force.
On 29 March 1934, he was chairman of R. J. Barnett & Coley Limited in New Malden
, Surrey when it was voluntarily liquidated. Atkinson was one of the two appointed liquidators.
Nothing is known of him after that.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with a total of 10 aerial victories, won while serving in three different squadrons during World War I. He would serve postwar until invalided out of the Royal Air Force. He then turned to a business career.
Early life
Atkinson was born in India on 10 November 1891, when it was still part of the British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. He became an officer in the 40th Pathans
40th Pathans
The 40th Pathans were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1858, as the Shahjehanpur Levy. It was designated as the 40th Pathans in 1903 and became 5th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
.
World War I
On 12 December 1915, Second LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Edward Dawson Atkinson of the 40th Pathans
40th Pathans
The 40th Pathans were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1858, as the Shahjehanpur Levy. It was designated as the 40th Pathans in 1903 and became 5th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate no. 2145 after training at the London and Provincial School, Hendon.
On 25 January 1917, he was already a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
; on that date, he was appointed Flight Commander and acting captain. Two months later, on 25 March, while serving in No. 1 Squadron on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, he used a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
to destroy a German observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
. He drove down two enemy planes in April, an Albatros D.II
Albatros D.II
|-See also:...
fighter on the 22nd and an Albatros reconnaissance craft on the 29th. He would not score again for over a year.
Atkinson was reassigned to 56 Squadron, which was equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. On 3 May 1918, in conjunction with William Roy Irwin
William Roy Irwin
Wing Commander William Roy Irwin was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace credited with 11 aerial victories. In the process of becoming an ace, he rose as far as the rank of captain. During World War II, he returned to service, reached the rank of Wing Commander, and won an OBE.-Early...
and Trevor Durrant, he destroyed a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
in one dogfight, and drove another down out of control 20 minutes later. Atkinson was now an ace.
A transfer to 64 Squadron quickly ensued. Still flying a SE.5a, Atkinson ran off a string of five more victories during the last week of May 1918. His final count came to a balloon and four enemy planes destroyed, and five more enemy planes driven down out of control while he was in France.
On 2 July 1918, Atkinson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits. It would be announced in the London Gazette on 3 August 1918:
A brilliant fighting pilot whose flight has proved very successful under his leadership, often in combats where the enemy formation was numerically superior. Capt. Atkinson destroyed single-handed five enemy machines during May, and previously, whilst serving with another squadron, he brought down two enemy aeroplanes and one balloon.
Post World War I
On 1 January 1919, Atkinson was awarded the Air Force Cross. He remained in service during the postwar demobilization. On 14 September 1923, he was assigned to aviation duty in Iraq; records disagree as to whether he served with either 8 Squadron or 84 Squadron.Shortly thereafter, on 1 January 1924, he was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
. On 25 May 1924, he was given command of 1 Squadron in Iraq.
He then returned to England; on 2 April 1926 to he was posted to RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
as a transfer to Home Establishment. He was still tasked as Commanding Officer of 1 Squadron before November 1926, when it was drawn down from Iraq in cadre status, and then returned to England; it is unknown whether this was a continuing appointment or a reappointment.
He was the CO again (or still) on 11 April 1927, in time to lead 1 Squadron for maneuvers in late July and early August 1927.
On 2 January 1928, he was again posted to RAF Uxbridge. On 1 September 1928, he was posted to No. 21 Group RAF HQs, RAF West Drayton
RAF West Drayton
RAF West Drayton was a non-flying Royal Air Force station in West Drayton, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, which served as the main centre for military air traffic control in the United Kingdom. It was co-located with the civilian London Terminal Control Centre to provide a vital link...
.
On 1 August 1930, he was once again posted to RAF Uxbridge.
On 21 October 1930, Atkinson was placed on half pay, Scale A. He remained in this status until 16 March 1931, when he was restored to full pay and posted to No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
HQs at RAF Lee-on-Solent.
On 18 January 1932, Edward Dawson Atkinson was invalided into retirement from the Royal Air Force.
On 29 March 1934, he was chairman of R. J. Barnett & Coley Limited in New Malden
New Malden
New Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
, Surrey when it was voluntarily liquidated. Atkinson was one of the two appointed liquidators.
Nothing is known of him after that.