Battle of Britain London Monument – Sgt. D I Kirton 
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LONDON MONUMENT 
"Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed
by so many to so few." 
Contact Information How to Contribute Latest News Home 
About The Monument
– History of the Project
– The Monument Now
– Visitor Information
– Airmens names listed by country of origin
Airmens stories
Privacy Statement The Airmen’s Stories – Sgt. D I Kirton
David Ian Kirton was born in Dover on 2nd June 1919 and educated at St James School and the County School for Boys locally. He left in 1935 and joined the RAF as a Boy Entrant. He was engaged in photography before applying, and being accepted for, pilot training.
On 12th June 1939 he commenced training at 22 E&RFTS Cambridge, going on to 6 FTS at Little Rissington in August. On 23rd March 1940 he was posted to 5 OTU Aston Down to convert to Hurricanes.
His first squadron posting was to 501 at Tangmere on 27th April but this proved a short stay as he went to 65 Squadron, equipped with Spitfires, at Hornchurch on 5th May.
Kirton was killed in action aged 21 when his Spitfire K9911 was shot down by Me109’s over Manston on 8th August 1940.
He is buried in St James Cemetery, Dover.
His older brother James was killed in a flying accident while serving with the RAF in 1944.
Battle of Britain Monument © Battle of Britain Archive 2007 – Email: info@bbm.org.uk Site management by Consult-X and Altroy