Watkinson, Charles

Nationality:: British

Biography

Service number 55059.

Charles Watkinson enlisted in the RAF in 1935, began pilot training 1942, commissioned 1943. He served post war flying a variety of aircraft including Mosquitos, lancasters, Vampires, Meteors, Canberras and Vulcans
He was awarded an Air Force Cross in 1951 and a bar for on the AFC in 1959.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 90 Squadron, Royal Air Force (No. 90 Squadron, Royal Air Force)
Awarded on:: February 16th, 1945

Citation:
"This officer has proved himself to be a highly efficient and determined captain of aircraft. On his first operation - a night attack on Russelheim - his Flight Engineer became seriously ill on the final stages of the route to the target, and remained completely incapable of performing his duties for the remainder of the trip. In spite of this handicap to an inexperienced crew the attack was successfully pressed home an a safe return achieved. On the following sortie - to Kiel - Watkinson’s aircraft was repeatedly attacked by night fighters for a considerable period before and after bombing the target. Again , however, the attack was pressed home in determined fashion, and two enemy aircraft were probably accounted for by his gunners. Since these early incidents, the pilot has continued to carry out in corageous and unassuming manner missions of a various nature, allowing nothing to deter him from the important task of bombing the target. His reports have, in every instance, been accurate, sincere and absolutely reliable and in carrying, so far, a total of 27 sorties, his contribution to the war effort has been magnificent."