Millen, Samuel James

Date of birth:: 1914 (Wanganui/Northern Island, New Zealand)
Date of death:: December 16th, 1940 (Shot down over the Channel near Lannilis/Finistere, France)
Service number:: 41047
Nationality:: New Zealander

Biography

Samule Millen was a memeber of the secret No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, flyinf secret missions over occupied Europe. On e of his missions covered an immense distance and took in STETTIN---ROSTOCK---EMDEN---CUXHAVEN---and BERLIN which took in total 5 hours and 55 minutes.
At the time of his DFC he had flown 30 photographic sorties
Six weeks after receiving his award and at 14:15 on the afternoon of 16th December 1940 F/O Millen took off from RAF St Eval in Cornwall in a Spitfire Mk1 (X4350) LY- on a photo reconnaissance sortie over the English Channel to the coastal area of Brest in Northern France.
He failed to return from this sortie having been shot down by a German flak battery just off the coat of France at Lannilis, Finistere, 20 km North of Brest. His body was later washed ashore at Treflez,31 km NE of Brest and is buried there in the village churchyard. His is the only war grave in this churchyard.
He was 26 years old and had completed 723 flying hours. It was his 50th and final sortie with the Top Secret No1 PRU.

Promotions:
20 August, 1938: Acting Pilot Officers on Probation
13 May, 1939: Pilot Officer
3 September, 1940: Flying Officer

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Unit:: No.1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit
Awarded on:: November 12th, 1940

Citation:
"Late in Oct. 1940 F/O Millen successfully completed exceptional photographic reconnaissances over four important targets in Germany in a new type of aircraft. He returned to his aerodrome after a flight of five hours 55 mins.at an altitude of 27,000 feet. He has conducted thirty photographic operations over enemy territory in unarmed single seater aircraft at high altitudes. The success he has achieved is due to his initiative and keenness combined with enthusiasm and very thorough preparations before flight "