Dennis Mitchell (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore Sir Dennis Mitchell (1918–2001) was a British
military pilot and commander.
Dennis Mitchell was educated at Bloxham School
and Pangbourne College
before becoming an air cadet at RAF Cranwell
. He flew multiple missions during the Second World War in the Far East
and Europe
. During the post-war 1940s Mitchell served at No 2 Group headquarters, British Air Forces of Occupation, No 84 Group and the Air Ministry, before learning to fly the Gloster Meteor, the RAF's first jet fighter.
Following brief command of No 26, a Hawker Tempest squadron in Germany
, he was posted to Brussels
in 1948 as a member of an RAF delegation responsible for determining the needs of the future Belgian Air Force
. In this period Mitchell met and married Comtesse Mireill Cornet de Ways Ruart.
He was decorated on several occasions, most notably being awarded a DFC
and Bar in 1944 for his courageous leadership of squadrons under his command in the north-west Europe Campaign. From 1956 to 1959 he was Deputy Captain of the Queen's Flight and Captain from 1962 to 1964. In 1958 Mitchell has been appointed ADC to the Queen
; he had been extra equerry since 1962. Mitchell was appointed KBE
in 1977 and CVO in 1961. He was awarded the AFC in 1943, DFC in 1944 and Bar and French Croix de Guerre
in 1945.
Mitchell died in 2001.
United 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...
military pilot and commander.
Dennis Mitchell was educated at Bloxham School
Bloxham School
Bloxham School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school located in the village of Bloxham, three miles from the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, England. It was founded in 1860 by the Reverend Philip Reginald Egerton and has since become a member of the Woodard Corporation...
and Pangbourne College
Pangbourne College
Pangbourne College is a coeducational independent school located in the civil parish of Pangbourne, just South West of the village, in the English County of Berkshire....
before becoming an air cadet at RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
. He flew multiple missions during the Second World War in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. During the post-war 1940s Mitchell served at No 2 Group headquarters, British Air Forces of Occupation, No 84 Group and the Air Ministry, before learning to fly the Gloster Meteor, the RAF's first jet fighter.
Following brief command of No 26, a Hawker Tempest squadron in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he was posted to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1948 as a member of an RAF delegation responsible for determining the needs of the future Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
. In this period Mitchell met and married Comtesse Mireill Cornet de Ways Ruart.
He was decorated on several occasions, most notably being awarded a 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...
and Bar in 1944 for his courageous leadership of squadrons under his command in the north-west Europe Campaign. From 1956 to 1959 he was Deputy Captain of the Queen's Flight and Captain from 1962 to 1964. In 1958 Mitchell has been appointed ADC to the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
; he had been extra equerry since 1962. Mitchell was appointed KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1977 and CVO in 1961. He was awarded the AFC in 1943, DFC in 1944 and Bar and French Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in 1945.
Mitchell died in 2001.