Date of death:

November 23rd, 1943

Service number:

142506

Nationality:

British

Ernest Mitchell was serving as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in No. 10 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) at the time of being recommended for his D.F.M. in April 1943, by which stage he had completed 37 operational sorties. No. 10 O.T.U. was attached to Coastal Command at St. Eval in August 1942, and remained similarly employed until July 1943, in which period its aircrew made 89 U-Boat sightings and attacked on 55 occasions - ostensibly a training unit, No. 10’s personnel actually spent the last three weeks of their course on anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay. And of the attacks carried out, two ended in the confirmed destruction of U-Boats, but the cost was high, around 50 of the unit’s Whitleys being lost in the same period, either to enemy action or hazardous flying conditions.

Promotions:
Sergeant
December 9th, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
July 10th, 1943: Flying Officer (probation/war sub)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Royal Air Force, No. 10 Operational Training Unit Detachment

Awarded on:

June 15th, 1943

Citation:
"Sergeant Mitchell was posted to this unit after having completed 13 operations with Bomber Command. Since then, he has completed 24 Sorties over the sea of which 9 have been air/sea rescue work and the remainder anti-submarine patrol. On two occasions, he succeeded in making Base under weather conditions that called for the exercise of the highest technical skill and on one occasion when his (wireless) set was damaged by enemy action, he was able to mend it in the air and produce all the wireless aid his Captain asked of him."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "ATLANTIC" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35999 published on the 30 April 1943
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36054 published on the 11 June 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36148 published on the 24 August 1943
  - 156 Squadron RAF
  - Dix Noonan Webb