Sir Max Aitken, 2nd Baronet
| Sir John William Maxwell Aitken, 2nd Baronet | |
|---|---|
Wing Commander Aitken, fourth from left, with other members of "The Few", September 1942
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| Born |
15 February 1910 Montreal, Canada |
| Died | 30 April 1985 (aged 75) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
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| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
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| Years of service | 1935 — 1946 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
| Relations |
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| Other work |
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Sir John William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 2nd Baronet, DSO, DFC (15 February 1910 – 30 April 1985), formerly 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, was a British Conservative politician and press baron, the son of Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook.
Aitken was born in Montreal on 15 February 1910 to Max Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook). He was educated at Westminster School and Pembroke College, Cambridge. A talented sportsman, he was a University blue at football and a scratch golfer. A keen flyer, he spent some time in the thirties flying throughout Europe and the USA. He joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1935.
Aitken served as a Bristol Blenheim and then a Hawker Hurricane pilot with No. 601 Squadron RAF during the early part of World War II, becoming CO in June 1940, earning the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross, for eight combat claims. Leaving the Squadron on 20 July 1940, he then served as CO of No. 68 Squadron RAF, a night fighter unit, from February 1941 until January 1943, claiming four night victories.
Serving in the Middle East during the middle war years as Wing Commander, although he was officially non-operational, he managed to shoot down two Junkers Ju 52 aircraft while flying with No. 46 Squadron RAF in Beaufighters.
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