Background
Elkington was born in Edgbaston near Birmingham on 23 December 1920, the only child of Alan Durham Elkington and his wife Isabel Frances (née Griffin).
Elkington was born in Edgbaston near Birmingham on 23 December 1920, the only child of Alan Durham Elkington and his wife Isabel Frances (née Griffin).
He was educated at Hockley Heath and Bedford School.
He joined the Royal Air Force in September 1939 as a Flight Cadet at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. Between October 1939 and April 1940 he trained at Number. 9 Elementary Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Ansty.
Elkngton then undertook further training with Number.
17 Service Flight Training School at Royal Air Force Cranwell. He was commissioned on 14 July 1940 and joined Number.
1 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Northolt a day later and flew Hawker Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. His first confirmed "kill" came on 15 August 1940, downing a Messerschmitt Bf 109.
A day later he was shot down and wounded on 16 August 1940 (research shows that he was shot down by Helmut Wick).
After recuperating at the Royal West Sussex Hospital at Chichester he rejoined Number. 1 Squadron on 1 October 1940 at Royal Air Force Wittering. After a spell with Number.
55 Operational Training Unit as an instructor, in late May 1941 he joined Number.
601 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Manston. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 14 July 1941.
From there he joined Number. 134 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Leconfield in July 1941.
On 12 August 1941 the squadron embarked on HMS Argus and took off from the carrier on 7 September for an airfield near Murmansk.
Until mid-October 1941 Elkington took part in escorting bombers and also trained Russian pilots to fly the Hurricane. 6 October 1941 Tim Elkington together with Sergeant B. Barnes from the Number.
134 Squadron shot down a German bomber Junkers Ju 88 over Vayenga.
He returned from Russia in January 1942. In April 1942 he joined the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit (MSFU) at Royal Air Force Speke until August 1942.
After a short period with Number. 1 Squadron again, in September 1942, Elkington joined Number.
539 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Acklington flying Hurricanes alongside Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft on night operations.
He was promoted Flight Lieutenant 14 October 1942. After 539 Squadron was disbanded in late January 1943, he joined Number. 197 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Drem flying the Hawker Typhoon.
After operations from Royal Air Force Tangmere he was posted to Number.
67 Squadron Royal Air Force at Alipore, Calcutta in December 1943. Tour expired, Elkington spent three years commanding AFDU at Royal Air Force Amarda Road and he returned home in October 1946.
Elkington had a long and varied career, including a tour with an Avro Shackleton Squadron in Northern Ireland. He was promoted Squadron Leader in 1946 and Wing Commander in 1961.
Elkington retired from the Royal Air Force on 23 December 1975.
After leaving the Royal Air Force, Elkington set up an art and picture-framing business.
