Bio / Text:
< =
expand >
Harold John Akroyd was born on 6th September 1913. He joined the RAFVR in January 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot and was called up on 1st September 1939, ending up with 152 Squadron at Acklington at the start of the Battle of Britain.
In mid-July the squadron moved south to Warmwell, in Dorset. On 15th August 1940 Akroyd claimed a Ju87 destroyed. On the same day he returned to Warmwell in the late afternoon after a combat over Portland with a damaged aircraft. The rudder was jammed but he landed Spitfire R6910 safely.
In combat with enemy fighters over Lyme Regis in the afternoon of 7th October Akroyd was shot down. His aircraft, Spitfire N3039, crashed and burned out at Nutmead, Shillingstone.
He was severely burned and died the next day. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity, Warmwell. South part.
