David Kirton

Sixty seven years ago today saw the loss of one of Dover’s sons. The tragic loss of Sergeant Pilot David I Kirton RAF. Shot down in flames whilst taking off from RAF Manston and crashing into the Village of Pegwell. David the younger of two sons attended St. James school and the County school [now DGSFB]. The Dover express newspaper employed David for a short time as an apprentice printer during their occupancy of premises in market street. At the tender age of 16 years he enlisted as an aircraft apprentice into the royal air force. Upon reaching the rank of leading aircraftsman he volunteered and was accepted for pilot training. On completion of pilot training he was posted to 501 squadron [hurricanes] and flew with this distinguished squadron for just a few weeks before a posting to 65 squadron which was based at RAF Hornchurch at that time. The accepted routine at that stage of the aerial war was was for squadrons and flights to be brought south at dawn to be closer to the continent and any skirmishes that might ensue. Just before mid-day a small number of German 109e’s on a tip & run sortie bounced 65 squadron during their late scramble call from ops. David, was killed and his aircraft crashed in flames into property's in Pegwell Village.