Pilot Officer James Leon Wilkie was a New Zealand airman of the Royal Air Force who died during the Second World War.
He was born on 1 November 1919, in Perth, Western Australia,[1] the son of Leonard Raymond and Clara Percival Wilkie (née Campion), both born in New Zealand. Wilkie was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, and was living in Fordell when he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in January 1939.[2]
Wilkie joined 266 Squadron on 6 November 1939, and with it flew the Fairey Battle.[1] He transferred to 263 Squadron on 3 May 1940, and was sent to Norway four days later via the troopship HMS Chrobry.[3] On 2 June, Wilkie and Pilot Officer L.R. Jacobsen were patrolling the Narvik area in Gloster Gladiators when they encountered a pair of German aircraft they believed to be Ju 88s. It transpired that the aircraft were, however, BF 110s, and it is believed that Wilkie was shot down by Helmut Lent. The wreckage of the Gladiator (serial N5914) remained at Lille Haugefjellet until 1998, when it was recovered and moved to the Jet Age Museum at Gloucestershire Airport with the intention of restoring the aircraft.[3]
He is buried in Narvik New Cemetery.
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References[]
- Wilkie, James Leon, cwgc.org. Retrieved 30 April 2016.