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Michael Duke Doulton

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Michael Duke Doulton Veteran

Birth
Wandsworth, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England
Death
31 Aug 1940 (aged 31)
Romford, London Borough of Havering, Greater London, England
Burial
Salehurst, Rother District, East Sussex, England Add to Map
Plot
133B.
Memorial ID
View Source
DOULTON, MICHAEL DUKE Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
Unit Text: 601 Sqdn.
Age: 31
Service No: 90235
Additional information: Son of Orrok Mills Doulton and of Catherine May Doulton (Nee Duke); husband of Carol Doulton (nee Duke); husband of Carol Doulton (nee Christie), of Vinehall, Sussex. A.M. 1. Mech. E. 2.
Michael Duke Doulton was born on 19th December 1908 at Wandsworth Common, then in Surrey. He was a great great grandson of John Dwight Doulton (1793-1873) one of the founders, in 1815, of Doulton & Watts, the firm that became Royal Doulton, maker of ceramics.

MD Doulton's father, who became Sir Orrok Doulton, worked for the family firm, served as a cavalry officer in the First World and died in 1922, possibly of war wounds.

While employed as a mechanical engineer MD Doulton joined 604 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force in 1931.

He was reputed to be the tallest pilot in the RAF in his day. John Cunningham, who would later amass a high total of night victories flying with 604 throughout the Battle and following Blitz, joined 604 in November 1935 and Doulton and he experimented in night-fighting techniques when the squadron converted to Blenheims.
Doulton went on to the Reserve in September 1936 but because of his engineering background he transferred to the Air Ministry in 1938 to prepare car factories to convert rapidly to shadow factories for the production of aero engines in the event of war. He was called to full-time service with the RAF on 24th August 1939.

Initially posted back to 604 Squadron, he then moved to 601 Squadron on 11th June 1940. On the 11th July he shared a Do17 and on the 20th a He59. On 13th August his Hurricane, P3884, was damaged in combat over Portland but he was able to return to Tangmere unhurt.
On the 15th August he shared a Ju88 and the next day destroyed a Ju87.
Doulton was shot down on 31st August 1940 in action over the Thames Estuary and reported 'Missing'.
He was 31 and was commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial: Panel 5.
However an aircraft excavated south of Wennington Church, near Romford, Essex on 27th April 1984 proved to be Hurricane R4215 and Doulton's remains were still in the cockpit. He was cremated in a private ceremony at Hastings in June 1984 and his ashes interred in
DOULTON, MICHAEL DUKE Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
Unit Text: 601 Sqdn.
Age: 31
Service No: 90235
Additional information: Son of Orrok Mills Doulton and of Catherine May Doulton (Nee Duke); husband of Carol Doulton (nee Duke); husband of Carol Doulton (nee Christie), of Vinehall, Sussex. A.M. 1. Mech. E. 2.
Michael Duke Doulton was born on 19th December 1908 at Wandsworth Common, then in Surrey. He was a great great grandson of John Dwight Doulton (1793-1873) one of the founders, in 1815, of Doulton & Watts, the firm that became Royal Doulton, maker of ceramics.

MD Doulton's father, who became Sir Orrok Doulton, worked for the family firm, served as a cavalry officer in the First World and died in 1922, possibly of war wounds.

While employed as a mechanical engineer MD Doulton joined 604 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force in 1931.

He was reputed to be the tallest pilot in the RAF in his day. John Cunningham, who would later amass a high total of night victories flying with 604 throughout the Battle and following Blitz, joined 604 in November 1935 and Doulton and he experimented in night-fighting techniques when the squadron converted to Blenheims.
Doulton went on to the Reserve in September 1936 but because of his engineering background he transferred to the Air Ministry in 1938 to prepare car factories to convert rapidly to shadow factories for the production of aero engines in the event of war. He was called to full-time service with the RAF on 24th August 1939.

Initially posted back to 604 Squadron, he then moved to 601 Squadron on 11th June 1940. On the 11th July he shared a Do17 and on the 20th a He59. On 13th August his Hurricane, P3884, was damaged in combat over Portland but he was able to return to Tangmere unhurt.
On the 15th August he shared a Ju88 and the next day destroyed a Ju87.
Doulton was shot down on 31st August 1940 in action over the Thames Estuary and reported 'Missing'.
He was 31 and was commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial: Panel 5.
However an aircraft excavated south of Wennington Church, near Romford, Essex on 27th April 1984 proved to be Hurricane R4215 and Doulton's remains were still in the cockpit. He was cremated in a private ceremony at Hastings in June 1984 and his ashes interred in

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