Harold Walkerdine
Lieutenant Harold John Walkerdine was a World War I flying ace officially credited with List of [World War I aces credited with 7 victories|seven aerial victories].
Early life and background
Walkerdine was born in Derby, the son of William Walkerdine and Sarah Ann ; he was the youngest of six children.Walkerdine was educated with Messrs. B.O. and C.J. Corbett and at Oundle School.
World War I service
On 7 June 1917 Walkerdine was commissioned from cadet to temporary second lieutenant on the General List to serve in the Royal Flying Corps, and was confirmed in his rank and appointed a flying officer on 31 August.He was assigned to No. 56 Squadron to fly the S.E.5a single-seat fighter. He scored his first aerial victory on 29 November 1917, when he destroyed a German DFW two-seater reconnaissance aircraft over Neuvireuil. He would not score again until 15 March 1918, when he drove an Albatros D.V down out of control north of Bourlon Wood. The next day at noon, he drove another Albatros down out of control. Two days later, on the 18th, he destroyed a pair of Pfalz D.IIIs to become an ace. On 23 March, Walkerdine, Maurice Mealing, Henry John Burden, and three other pilots claimed a shared victory by destroying a German reconnaissance aircraft over Moreuil. Four days later, Walkerdine and fellow ace Louis Jarvis destroyed an Albatros D.V southeast of Bray. Walkerdine was wounded in action on 11 April 1918.
On 23 March 1919, Walkerdine was placed on the RAF's unemployed list, but these orders were subsequently cancelled. He finally relinquished his commission on 16 April 1919, on the grounds of ill health suffered while in military service.