Operation: Interception

Date: 12th May 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 603 Squadron (motto: Gin ye daur - 'If you dare')

Type: Spitfire VC

Serial: BR127

Code: XT-?

Base: RAF Ta Kalu, Malta

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: P/O. Herbert Robert Mitchell NZ/391843 RNZAF Age 25. Missing believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Weather: No cloud, haze.

Taking off at 11:10 hrs with 7 others to intercept an incoming air raid by Ju88s.

One Spitfire shot down in the sea off Malta the pilot safe. One Spitfire missing from operations; the pilot missing. One Spitfire force landed, and the pilot was injured. One Spitfire shot down into the sea, pilot safe. One Spitfire crashed on landing, the pilot uninjured. Two Spitfires collide on the runway during the scramble; pilots are uninjured. One Spitfire was damaged by enemy aircraft; crashed on landing, the pilot uninjured.

Spitfire BR127 was shot down and crashed at high speed into the sea, P/O. Mitchell is posted as missing - believed killed.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. Herbert Robert Mitchell. Malta Memorial. Panel 5, Column 1. Born on the 13th of March 1917 in Deer Creek, Havelock. Worked as a stonemason for Samsons Funeral Directors in Greymouth. An RNZAF Civil Reserve Pilot with West Coast United Aero Club. 29 flying hours logged). Enlisted at Levin on the 17th December 1939 as a pilot under training. With No. I Elementary Flying Training School on the 16th of January 1940. No. 1 Flying Training School on the 11th March 1940. Pilot badge awarded on the 07th May 1940. Promoted to sergeant on the 28th of June 1940.

Embarked for England on RMS Rangitane on 12th July 1940. With No. 1 Personnel Reception Centre on the 27th August 1940. 60 Training Unit 10th September 1940 flying the Hurricane. Joined 3 squadron on the 04th October 1940 where he carried out 13 operational sorties. 615 squadron on the 18th November 1940 carrying out a further 5 operational sorties. 260 squadron on the 01st December, 19 operational sorties. 41 squadron 15th May 1941 flying the Spitfire, a further 105 operational sorties. Awarded commission on the 05th January 1942. With 603 squadron carried out at least 9 operational sorties. With the squadron on the escort carrier USS Wasp for Malta in early April 1942. Flew a Spitfire off the carrier in the Mediterranean to Malta on 20th April 1942. A total of 566 flying hours were logged and had carried out over 128 operational sorties. A Battle of Britain veteran.

Son of William (died 02nd June 1958, age 77) and Edith Mitchell (née Patterson - died 13th February 1964, age 77), of Reefton, Nelson, New Zealand,

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below:

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