Roger Hall Atkinson was born on 28 April 1921 in Tarrant, Texas, USA, the son of Lt.-Col. Albert King Atkinson (1889-1966) and Florence Mae Atkinson née Hall (1894-1967). United States Federal Census returns for 1930 and 1940 show that he was living with his parents in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA.
He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 102048, and served as a Pilot Officer in No.71 Squadron.
He died, aged 20 years, on 15 October 1941 in a flying accident when his parachute failed to open after baling out of his Spitfire, serial number AD123, that suffered structural failure during aerobatic practice near Woodford, Essex. He was buried in Plot 21, Row A, Grave 10 in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Dawney Hill, Pirbright, Surrey He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
