293

W/O MITCHELL.
2. (centre aligned)

posted to No. 71 Operational Training Unit, Ismailia, Egypt on the 19th August 1944. During November he was attached to the Air Firing Squadron, Ismailia for a course. After a short course at No. 5 Refresher Flying Unit, Perugia, Italy in January, 1945, Warrant Officer Mitchell returned to England.

Shortly after arrival in England he was posted, on the 1st February, 1945, to No. 55 Operational Training Unit (No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit) Aston Downs, Glos., and from there to No. 83 Group Support Unit, Dunsfold, Surrey, on the 12th March. His next posting was on the 23rd March, 1945 to No. 486 (N.Z.) Squadron at that time part of the Tactical Air Force in France. As the pilot of a Tempest fighter aircraft he completed thirteen operational flights, the majority of them being armed reconnaissances over enemy territory, in which enemy motor transport and trains were attacked.

On his fourteenth operational flight, on the 14th April, 1945, Warrant Officer Mitchell was pilot of a Tempest aircraft carrying out armed reconnaissance over Ludwigslust, Germany. He was attacked by six Messerschmitts and he failed to return to his base and was classified as missing. In due course W/O Mitchell was presumed to have lost his life on the 14th April 1945.

Find a Grave link with a photo of W/O Mitchell: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18404395/owen_james-mitchell

5/2/13282
767 hours as pilot.

Mr. F. Mitchell (F) (right aligned)
Town Clerk, (right aligned)
NELSON. (right aligned)