The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. C D E Skinner
Charles David Evelyn Skinner, of West Byfleet, Surrey was born on 17th July 1916. He attended Cheltenham College from 1931 to 1934 and became an engineering apprentice at Simms Motor Units in 1935.
He joined 604 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was commissioned in March.
Called to full-time service on 28th September 1939, Skinner married Pamela Couper on 11th March 1940 in Blaby, Leicestershire (below).
He was detached from 604 Squadron to AFDU Northolt on 5th February 1940 for a ten-day Air Fighting Course. He damaged a He111 on 19th June 1940. He served with 604 throughout the Battle of Britain.
His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he became a Legionaire of the Legion of Merit (US) (gazetted 9th October 1945) as an Acting Wing Commander.
He was released from the RAF in 1946 and went to work for Rotax Ltd.
Skinner was later a director of Joseph Lucas Export Ltd. He rejoined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1947.
Skinner died in September 1987 on the Isle of Wight.
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