Denis Miller
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Denis "Dusty" Miller DSO
DFC
(12 November 1918 – 24 March 2009) was a New Zealand
bomber
and airline
pilot.
.
in 1941, where he served in RAF Bomber Command
. His first posting was to No. 50 Squadron RAF
, where he flew Hampdens
. He then moved to No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF to instruct on Vickers Wellington
s.
. He flew a variety of aircraft with BOAC for over 28 years.
Miller was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy.
On 12 May 1944, the then Acting Squadron Leader Miller was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. The details were gazetted on 9 May 1944 as follows:
pilot with British Airways
, who predeceased him.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Denis "Dusty" Miller DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(12 November 1918 – 24 March 2009) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
and airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
pilot.
Early life
Miller was born in 1918 in New Zealand and educated at Auckland Grammar SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
.
Military career
Miller travelled to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1941, where he served in RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. His first posting was to No. 50 Squadron RAF
No. 50 Squadron RAF
No. 50 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during the First World War as a home defence fighter squadron, and operated as a bomber squadron during the Second World War and the Cold War. It disbanded for the last time in 1984....
, where he flew Hampdens
Handley Page Hampden
The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane...
. He then moved to No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF to instruct on Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
s.
Later life and death
At the end of World War II, Miller joined British Overseas Airways CorporationBritish Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
. He flew a variety of aircraft with BOAC for over 28 years.
Awards and decorations
On 23 June 1942, the then Acting Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Miller was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy.
On 12 May 1944, the then Acting Squadron Leader Miller was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. The details were gazetted on 9 May 1944 as follows:
Acting Squadron Leader Dennis MILLER, DFC (NZ402207), Royal New Zealand Air Force, No 49 Squadron
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has completed very many sorties, including five attacks on Berlin and three against Hanover. Throughout he has displayed a high degree of skill, courage and resolution, qualities which have earned him much success. In April 1944, he piloted an aircraft detailed for a minelaying mission. In spite of opposing fire from armed ships and from the shore batteries, Squadron Leader Miller executed his task with great precision and afterwards completed the long flight home safely.
His example has been worthy of emulation.
Personal life
He was married to Margery, who died in 2007. He has two children; a daughter, by whom he is survived and a son, who became a Boeing 747Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
pilot with British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, who predeceased him.