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Blake, Minden Vaughan "Mindy"

Date of birth:
February 13th, 1913 (Eketahuna/Wairarapa, New Zealand)
Date of death:
November 30th, 1981 (Great Britain)
Service number:
36095
Nationality:
New Zealander (1907-1947, Dominion UK)

Biography

Minden Blake was shot down on August 19th, 1942 and was made POW. He stayed POW until May 1945.

Promotions:
March 9th, 1937: Pilot Officer (seniority June 9th, 1935);
September 9th, 1937: Flying Officer (seniority December 9th, 1936);
March 9th, 1939: Acting Flight Lieutenant;
September 9th, 1939: Flight Lieutenant (seniority December 9th, 1938);
September 1st, 1940: Temporary Squadron Leader;
December 16th, 1941: Temporary Wing Commander;
November 24th, 1942: Squadron Leader (seniority September 1st, 1940);
October 1st, 1946: Wing Commander.

Career:
October 1937 - April 1940: Group Captain No. 17 Squadron;
April 1940 - August 1940: Instructor Operational Training Unit;
August 1940 - October 1940: Squadron Leader No. 238 Squadron;
October 1940 - August 1941: Squadron Leader No. 234 Squadron;
August 1941 - 1942: Commanding Officer Exeter;
1942 - 1945: Commanding Officer Portreath.
January 28th, 1958: Retirement.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Unit:
No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 7th, 1941
Citation:
"Squadron Leader Blake has displayed fine qualities of leadership and has personally destroyed five enemy aircraft. By his splendid example he has set a high standard to his fellow pilots."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1941
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wing Commander
Awarded on:
August 14th, 1942
Citation:
"During the past 10 months, this officer has completed numerous sorties, including several attacks on enemy shipping. He has rendered valuable service and his leadership has been of the highest order. He has destroyed at least 9 hostile aircraft."
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wing Commander
Awarded on:
January 31st, 1947
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Received with "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp
1939-1945 Star

Sources

  • Photo: New Zealand Air Force
  • - The London Gazette of 26th March 1937, Issue 34383
    - The London Gazette of 14th June 1938, Issue 34521
    - The London Gazette of 12th September 1939, Issue 34679
    - The London Gazette of 20th September 1940, Issue 34949
    - The London Gazette of 7th January 1941, Issue 35037
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th March 1941, Issue 35107, dated 17th March 1941
    - The London Gazette of 16th December 1941, Issue 35383
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 11th August 1942, Issue 35667, dated 14th August 1942
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 17th November 1942, Issue 35791, dated 20th November 1942
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th November 1946, Issue 37784, dated 12th November 1946
    - The London Gazette of 31st January 1947, Issue 37868
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th January 1958, Issue 41296, dated 28th January 1958
    - Auckland War Memorial Museum

Photo