Mills, Randolph Stuart "Milly

Date of birth:: October 20th, 1909 (London, Great Britain)
Date of death:: January 10th, 1996 (Great Britain)
Service number:: 36067
Nationality:: British

Biography

Milly Mills attended the Imperial Service College and joined the RAF in January 1927 as an Aircraft Apprentice an worked some time as a Fitter on Aero Engines.
He later succesfully applied for pilot training. He joined 17 Squadron at Kenley on 3 June 1936 and moved to Northolt on 1 February 1937.
He joined 263 Squadron at its formation at Filton on 20 October 1939 as a Flight Commander and served there during both Norwegian expeditions flying Gloster Gladiators.
He left the unit thereafter to take command of 87 Squadron at Church Fenton.
He was posted away in December to the USA, as Assistant Air Attaché, to develop British training facilities. The RAF eventually had six schools there. Mills also personally briefed Roosevelt at the White House on European operations.
He did not return to the UK until 1945.
Mills ended the war with 1 biplane victory.
He retired from the RAF on 20 October 1956 as a Wing Commander, retaining the rank of Group Captain.

Promotions:
May 21st, 1936 Pilot Officer (probation)
May 21st, 1937: Pilot Officer
November 21st, 1937: Flying Officer
November 21st, 1939: Flight Lieutenant
December 1st, 1940: Squadron Leader (Temporary)
January 1st, 1943: Wing Commander (Temporary)
December 19th, 1944: Wing Commander (war sub)
October 1st, 1946: Wing Commander

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 263 (Fellowship of the Bellows) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: May 10th, 1940

Citiation:
"This Officer was one of the Flight Commanders of No. 263 Squadron whilst in Norway. During an enemy bombing attack he remained in his cockpit and started his engine, taking off under machine-gun fire. He assisted in destroying one Heinkel 111 aircraft and attacked eight other aircraft of that type and three Junkers 88s. He also carried out a successful forced landing when enemy shots had removed one aircraft cylinder and starboard inner plane strut."