The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D I Kirton

David Ian Kirton was born in Dover on 2nd June 1919 and educated at St James School and the County School for Boys locally. He left in 1935 and joined the RAF as a Boy Entrant. He was engaged in photography before applying, and being accepted for, pilot training.

On 12th June 1939 he commenced training at 22 E&RFTS Cambridge, going on to 6 FTS at Little Rissington in August. On 23rd March 1940 he was posted to 5 OTU Aston Down to convert to Hurricanes.

His first squadron posting was to 501 at Tangmere on 27th April but this proved a short stay as he went to 65 Squadron, equipped with Spitfires, at Hornchurch on 5th May.

Kirton was killed in action aged 21 when his Spitfire K9911 was shot down by Me109's over Manston on 8th August 1940.

He is buried in St James Cemetery, Dover.

His older brother James was killed in a flying accident while serving with the RAF in 1944.