Biographical data

Biographical Data
Atkinson, William Henry Isaac If you have images associated with this Person, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Title	Commander (RCN)
Official Number	O-3322

Birth	22/04/1923	Death	16/07/2015
Place	Minnedosa	Place	Peachland
Area	MB	Area	BC
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours	DSC. M.I.D.
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
After his naval service he worked as Real Estate Broker in Surrey BC. (He retired again in 1984.)

Military Service
He was appointed as a Leading Naval Airman RNVR (With seniority dated 13/01/1943). He served in H.M.S. St. Vincent for Training 1943. RCAF Goderich for Elementary Flight Training School 1943. He served in RCAF Aylmer ON for Service Flying Training School 1943. He was appointed as a Petty Officer Pilot RNVR (With seniority dated 01/03/1944). (Transferred to RCNVR 01/03/1944). He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/04/1944). He served in H.M.S. Macaw 1944, RAF Erroll for Advanced Flying Training 1944. He served in RNAS Henstridge for 761 RN Squadron 1944. He served in the Royal Naval College Greenwich 1944. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) (P) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/10/1944). He served in H.M.S. Ravager for Deck Landing Training 1944. He served in H.M.S. Patroller for Deck Landing Training 1944. He served in RNAS Puttalan (Ceylon) for Advanced Flying Training 1944. He served in H.M.S. Indomitable for 1844 Squadron 1945. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) (Temp.) RCNVR 10/03/1945). He participated in the Okinawa landings 1945. He served in H.M.S. Formidable on Loan as Pilot 1945, (Transferred to RCN 27/12/1945). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) RCN (Appointed 27/12/1945) (With seniority dated 10/03/1945). He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for 799 RN Squadron 1945. He served in RNAS Eglinton for Advanced Naval Fighter School 1946. He served in HMCS Naden for Royal Canadian Naval College Royal Roads as Term Lieutenant 1946. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in No.1 Training Air Group 1948. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in 803 Squadron as Maintenance Test Pilot 1948. He served in HMCS Haida for Watchkeeping Training 1949. He served in HMCS New Liskeard for Watchkeeping Training 1949, Portage for Watchkeeping Training 1949, Awarded Watchkeeping Certificate 06/02/1950. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in #1 Training Air Group 1950. He served in RCAF Centralia for Instrument Flying Course 1950. He served in RNAS Eglinton for 815 RN Squadron for JUC 1950. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in 825 Squadron 1950. He served in HMCS Magnificent 1950. He served in HMCS Shearwater for 881 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1952. He was appointed as an A/Lieutenant-Commander (P) RCN (With seniority dated 01/05/1953). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) RCN (With seniority dated 10/03/1953). He served in NHQ on Staff of Director Naval Air as Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist 1953). He served in NHQ For Special Duty as Naval Assistant to the Commander Canadian Joint Air Training Centre Rivers and as Officer In Immediate Command of Naval Personnel at Canadian Joint Air Training Center Rivers MB 1955. He served in RCAF Staff College for Staff Course 1957. He served in HMCS Nootka as Executive Officer 1958. He served in HMCS Niagara for Duty With VX-1 USN Squadron (Key West) as RCN Liaison Officer 1960. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1962). He served in HMCS Haida (I) (In command) 1962. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Training Commander 1964. He served in HMCS Venture (Officer Training Establishment) as Commanding Officer and as Training Commander 1964, Training Command HQ as Deputy Chief of Staff (Maritime) 1966, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff Washington as Intelligence Liaison Officer 1969. (He was retired 01/09/1973.) (He was qualified with a Watchkeeping Certificate and as an Army parachutist.)

Military Service

He was appointed as a Leading Naval Airman RNVR (With seniority dated 13/01/1943). He served in H.M.S. St. Vincent for Training 1943. RCAF Goderich for Elementary Flight Training School 1943. He served in RCAF Aylmer ON for Service Flying Training School 1943. He was appointed as a Petty Officer Pilot RNVR (With seniority dated 01/03/1944). (Transferred to RCNVR 01/03/1944). He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/04/1944). He served in H.M.S. Macaw 1944, RAF Erroll for Advanced Flying Training 1944. He served in RNAS Henstridge for 761 RN Squadron 1944. He served in the Royal Naval College Greenwich 1944. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) (P) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/10/1944). He served in H.M.S. Ravager for Deck Landing Training 1944. He served in H.M.S. Patroller for Deck Landing Training 1944. He served in RNAS Puttalan (Ceylon) for Advanced Flying Training 1944. He served in H.M.S. Indomitable for 1844 Squadron 1945. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) (Temp.) RCNVR 10/03/1945). He participated in the Okinawa landings 1945. He served in H.M.S. Formidable on Loan as Pilot 1945, (Transferred to RCN 27/12/1945). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) RCN (Appointed 27/12/1945) (With seniority dated 10/03/1945). He served in RNAS Lee-on-Solent for 799 RN Squadron 1945. He served in RNAS Eglinton for Advanced Naval Fighter School 1946. He served in HMCS Naden for Royal Canadian Naval College Royal Roads as Term Lieutenant 1946. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in No.1 Training Air Group 1948. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in 803 Squadron as Maintenance Test Pilot 1948. He served in HMCS Haida for Watchkeeping Training 1949. He served in HMCS New Liskeard for Watchkeeping Training 1949, Portage for Watchkeeping Training 1949, Awarded Watchkeeping Certificate 06/02/1950. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in #1 Training Air Group 1950. He served in RCAF Centralia for Instrument Flying Course 1950. He served in RNAS Eglinton for 815 RN Squadron for JUC 1950. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for duty as Pilot in 825 Squadron 1950. He served in HMCS Magnificent 1950. He served in HMCS Shearwater for 881 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1952. He was appointed as an A/Lieutenant-Commander (P) RCN (With seniority dated 01/05/1953). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) RCN (With seniority dated 10/03/1953). He served in NHQ on Staff of Director Naval Air as Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist 1953). He served in NHQ For Special Duty as Naval Assistant to the Commander Canadian Joint Air Training Centre Rivers and as Officer In Immediate Command of Naval Personnel at Canadian Joint Air Training Center Rivers MB 1955. He served in RCAF Staff College for Staff Course 1957. He served in HMCS Nootka as Executive Officer 1958. He served in HMCS Niagara for Duty With VX-1 USN Squadron (Key West) as RCN Liaison Officer 1960. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/01/1962). He served in HMCS Haida (I) (In command) 1962. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Training Commander 1964. He served in HMCS Venture (Officer Training Establishment) as Commanding Officer and as Training Commander 1964, Training Command HQ as Deputy Chief of Staff (Maritime) 1966, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff Washington as Intelligence Liaison Officer 1969. (He was retired 01/09/1973.) (He was qualified with a Watchkeeping Certificate and as an Army parachutist.)

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown	Total Flying Hours: 3,400 hours. Total Deck Landings: 241 (day) 35 (night) Service Aircraft Flown: Tiger Moth, Harvard, Miles Master, Seafire 2 & 3 & 15 & 17, Spitfire 5 & 9, Wildcat, Corsair, Hellcat, Sea Fury, Anson, Firefly Trainer, Expeditor, Barracuda, Firefly 5, Avenger, T-33, F2H3, CS2F, S2F-1, S2F-3, P2V-7, HTL-6, HO4S-3, HSS 1N & 1 & 2, Mustang, Dakota
Named Features

Anecdotes
He was one of only sixteen World War Two Fleet Air Arm pilots to achieve five or more air victories.

References
MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); Blatherwick, John (1992); Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON;
Last update
2015-12-25 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Atkinson, William Henry Isaac