David Atcherley

Air Vice Marshal David Francis William Atcherley, (12 January 1904 – 8 June 1952) was a senior Royal Air Force officer.

Early life David Atcherley and his twin Richard were born on 12 January 1904, and were the sons of Major General Sir Llewellyn Atcherley, Chief Constable of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and his wife "Nellie", Eleanor Frances (1871–1957), daughter of Richard Mickelthwait, of Ardsley House, in the valley of Deane near Barnsley. Atcherley and his brother were first cousins of William Empson. They both attended Oundle School in Northamptonshire.

He then became an aircraft pilot and transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF). At the start of the war he was Commanding Officer of No. 85 Squadron. He commanded No. 253 Squadron in May 1940.

Towards the end of the war he served as senior air staff officer in No. 2 Group. His aircraft never arrived at Nicosia, and no radio message was received. No trace of Atcherley or his aircraft was ever found despite an extensive air-sea search being carried out by British, Israeli, Turkish and American aircraft.

Honours and awards 29 July 1941 – Distinguished Flying Cross – Wing Commander David Francis William Atcherley, Royal Air Force.

14 July 1944 – Distinguished Service Order – Acting Air Commodore David Francis William Atcherley, Royal Air Force.