Kenneth Wilkinson
Second World War
Kenneth Wilkinson was a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain. Born 29 June 1918 in Barrow-in-Furness and educated at Cheltenham Grammar School, Wilkinson joined the RAFVR in March 1939 as an Airman u/t (under training) Pilot.
On 1 September 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, he was called up and spent the first few months of the war in an Internal Training Wing (ITW) until he was eventually posted to 5 EFTS Hanworth. He quickly moved to 10 (Advanced) EFTS Yatesbury from 25 May to 7 June, moving then to 8 FTS Montrose. Completing his training on 31 August 1940, he was posted to Hawarden in early September.
In October 1940, Wilkinson converted to Spitfires and joined No. 616 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey before moving to No. 19 Squadron at Fowlmere on 17 October. At the beginning of 1941, Wilkinson was then posted away to 56 OTU Sutton Bridge, where he worked as an Instructor. He then joined 1488 Flight at Shoreham. In May 1942, Wilkinson was sent to COS Sutton Bridge, where he trained to become a Pilot Gunnery Instructor. He was then posted to 11 Group Practice Camp at Martlesham Heath. A year later, in February 1943, Wilkinson completed a refresher course on Spitfires at 61 OTU Rednal, before being posted to No. 234 Squadron at Skeabrae in April. A few months later, he moved to No. 165 Squadron at Ibsley. At the end of 1943, he was posted to 53 OTU Hibaldstow and was commissioned in February 1944. Remaining at Hibaldstow until June, Wilkinson then moved to Honeybourne in August and finally to 10 OTU Abingdon in May 1945.
Released from the RAF in November 1945, he continued to serve with the RAFVR until 1947. Later in life, Wilkinson worked as a quantity surveyor, where one of his projects included Birmingham’s New Street Station.
Wilkinson was one of the last surviving Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots when he died on 31 July 2017, aged 99. His funeral was held at St Alphege Church in Solihull, with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire.
