Victor Ekins

Wounded over Britain, he returned to lead fighter operations

Victor Howard Ekins was born in St Neots, Huntingdonshire, in 1914. A chartered surveyor before the war, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in March 1939 and began flying training at Shoreham. Called to full-time service that September, he completed fighter training before joining No. 111 Squadron in July 1940. Flying Hawker Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, Ekins fought in the desperate defence of southern England. On 5 September 1940, he claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 destroyed. Later that month, he transferred to No. 501 Squadron, where he narrowly escaped death. On 27 September 1940, while flying Hurricane V6672 over Godstone, Surrey, Ekins was attacked by an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 110. A machine-gun bullet struck him in the back, passed through his abdomen and damaged his aircraft's controls. Despite his serious wounds, he managed to bail out at approximately 19,000 feet. In an extraordinary coincidence, his parachute carried him into woodland beside a Canadian military ambulance unit. He received immediate medical assistance and was taken to Sevenoaks Hospital. Remarkably, Ekins recovered sufficiently to return to No. 501 Squadron on 26 November 1940, just two months after his near-fatal escape. Commissioned in April 1941, he continued operational flying and became a flight commander. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 23 June 1942, he subsequently served in operational headquarters before taking command of No. 19 Squadron in November 1942. Flying Supermarine Spitfires, Ekins led his squadron on offensive operations over occupied Europe. He remained in command through 1943, completing his final operational sortie on 5 December that year while escorting American bombers to Lille. His subsequent appointments included flying instructor and staff officer. He made his final Spitfire flight on 25 August 1945. Recognized with appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1946 New Year Honours, Ekins left the RAF in January 1946 as a squadron leader and returned to the family surveying business. He married Margaret Kimber in December 1941.

He died in February 1993 at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

Distinguished Flying Cross citation, London Gazette, 23 June 1942:

“This officer has carried out many offensive sweeps and reconnaissances, including attacks on shipping and ground targets in enemy territory, and has damaged 3 enemy aircraft. He is a skilful and gallant officer, whose indomitable spirit and cheerful courage have been an inspiration to his squadron.”