 Akasimudzirwa kuva mukuru anobhururuka munaNovember 1939, Aitken akaramba ari pamabasa okudzidzisa kusvika pakati pa1940, akapindirana nenguva dzebasa pazvikepe zvinotakura ndege, kutanga neHMS Courageous uye ipapo HMS Furious. Gare gare akashanda paHMS Ark Royal uye pane imwe rwendo muna February 1940, akaendeswa mugungwa apo ngarava yakanga ichiita chiito chokudzivisa panguva yekurwiswa kwebhomba rakagadzirwa neLuftwaffe. Murume bedzi akarasika mumhenderekedzo yegungwa muchinoitika chacho, akatorwa nomuparadzi aitevera. Mukati memushandirapamwe muNorway, Aitken akabhururuka neHawker Hurricane kubva kuArk Royal kuenda kuTrondheim. 