Mitchell, John Patrick D'Arley
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Patrick D'Arley |
Surname | Mitchell |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-08-1940 |
Next of Kin | Son of Capt. George William and Marie Louisa Mitchell, of West Heslerton. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | |
Serial Number | |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Thorpe Bassett (All Saints) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Old portion. |
Epitaph | HE GAVE HIS TODAY FOR OUR TOMORROW |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 213 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 550746 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Trade | |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Melbourne, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial Stone & Plaque |
Memorial Text | No 10 Squadron, 4 Group Bomber Command, WWII 1939-1945. This memorial was erected at the entrance to the former RAF Station Melbourne by ex Members and Friends of the Squadron to honour the memory of all personnel who died in the service of their Country |
Location | Melbourne Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Runway Light in Concrete Base |
Memorial Text | Let this landing light be a memorial to all those 1,000 aircrew and 120 aircraft that left this very point never to return so that we may return again and again in freedom to enjoy York Motor Sport Park |
Miscellaneous Information
John Mitchell was born in Brighton in 1920 to Capt. and Mrs. Mitchell but moved to the Rillington area of Yorkshire with his family when he was young. He attended Rillington School and later Malton Grammar School and joined the RAF at the age of 15. He had flown regularly since the outbreak of the war up until around the end of June 1940 when he contracted a serious illness (currently unknown). He sadly died in Ilkley of this illness on 8th August 1940 and is buried at Thorpe Bassett Churchyard, Yorkshire. He appears to have left 10 Squadron just after an incident on the night of 17/18 May 1940 when the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing an oil storage plant near Bremen. They left base at 20.51hrs and the bombs were dropped within a eighteen minute period but no bursts were seen to due evasive action being taken. The aircraft was hit by flak and the tailplane and starboard side of the fuselage received damage. The pilot was able to make a safe return and land at Dishforth at 03.20hrs without further damage and the aircraft was later repaired. Pilot - Sgt James Grant MacCoubrey RAF (580264). Second Pilot - P/O Keith James Somerville RAF (41486), Observer - Sgt Gilbert Bell RAF (580995). Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - LAC John Patrick D-Arley Mitchell RAF (550746), of West Heslerton, Yorkshire. Rear Gunner - AC R Myers RAF (624594). |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-11--0001 |
End Date | 30-11--0001 |
Takeoff Station | |
Day/Night Raid | |
Operation | |
Reason for Loss | Malton Gazette: "the young airman who died on Thursday at Ilkley of illness contracted on active service." |