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With this Squadron still as Pilot Officer of Hurricane aircraft, he took part in eighteen operational flights, being scrambles, dusk and dawn patrols, and convoy patrols. On the 15th May 1941, he was posted to No. 41 Squadron first at Catterick, Yorkshire and later at Merston, Sussex. From these bases a Pilot of Spitfire fighter aircraft he took part in a further one hundred and one operational flights being patrols, scrambles, low level attacks to targets in Northern France, provision of top cover to our bombers operating to targets in Lille, St. Omer, Bethune, Le. Trail, Dieppe, Le Havre, Calais and Abbeville, all in Northern France, sweeps over the English Channel and enemy occupied France and the provision of cover to our shipping and barges, returning from the raid on Le Havre on November 25th, 1941.

On the 13th April, 1942 he was posted to No. 603 Squadron, at Abbotsinch and embarked with the Squadron on the United States Aircraft Carrier "Wasp". Along with two other Spitfire Squadrons they flew from the "Wash" when it reached the North Africa Coast in the Mediterranean, reaching Malta on the 20th April, when the Squadron was posted to Takali Airfield there. From this base as Pilot of Spitfire aircraft, Pilot Officer Mitchell took part in nine operational flights, bring his total to one hundred and twenty eight. On the 9th May he shared with two other Pilots the, distinction of destroying 2 M.E. 1095 and on his own account having damaged a further M.E. 109.

Pilot Officer Mitchell was the Pilot of a Spitfire aircraft engaged in and interception flight over the sea from Malta, on the 12th May 1942. The aircraft failed to return to its base, having been seen to crash into the sea, and Pilot Officer Mitchell was classified as missing. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 12th May 1942.

A post war casualty search failed to find any trace of the aircraft or Pilot Officer Mitchell and it has been assumed that he lost his life at sea.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Pilot Officer Mitchell: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15270703/herbert-robert-mitchell

5/1/699 AS2
566 Hours as Pilot.

Mrs. E. Mitchell (M) (right aligned)
Herald Street, (right aligned)
REEFTON. (right aligned & underlined)