Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell, (8 March 1888 – 15 August 1944) was a senior commander in the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
(RAF) and the first RAF officer to hold the post of
Black Rod.
RAF career
Commissioned into the
Devonshire Regiment
The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...
in 1906, Mitchell spent his early military years as an infantry subaltern.
[Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell]
/ref> He attended the Central Flying School
The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 at the Upavon Aerodrome, it is the longest existing flying training school. The school was based at ...
in 1913, being awarded his Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club (RAeC) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain, being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910.
History
The Aero Club was foun ...
Aviator's Certificate no. 483 on 17 May 1913, before becoming a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colors =
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.[ During the ]First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
he saw rapid advancement, serving as Officer Commanding
The officer commanding (OC), also known as the officer in command or officer in charge (OiC), is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit (smaller than battalion size), principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, ...
No. 10 Squadron, Officer Commanding 12th (Corps) Wing and Officer Commanding No. 20 Group.[
After the war he moved to India and commanded No. 52 (Corps) Wing and No. 3 (Indian) Wing (subsequently redesignated No. 1 (Indian) Wing).][ He was appointed Officer Commanding, ]No. 1 Flying Training School
The No. 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS) is the oldest military pilot training school in the world, currently used to deliver rotary training to aircrew of the British armed forces.
History
First formation (1919 – 1928)
On 23 December 1919 ...
in 1924, Group Captain – Administration at RAF Halton in 1925 and Officer Commanding Aden Command
British Forces Aden was the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the Aden Protectorate during part of the 20th century. Their purpose was to preserve the security of the Protectorate from both internal threats and external aggressi ...
in 1928.[ He went on to be Director of Training at the ]Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...
in 1929 before being made Air Officer Commanding RAF Cranwell
Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), which trai ...
in 1933, Air Officer Commanding British Forces in Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
in 1934 and Air Member for Personnel
The Air Member for Personnel (AMP) is the senior Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for personnel matters and is a member of the Air Force Board. The AMP is in charge of all aspects of recruiting, non-operational flying and ground tr ...
in 1937.[
Mitchell served in the ]Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Middle East from March 1939, and then Inspector-General of the RAF
The Inspector-General of the RAF was a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force, responsible for the inspection of airfields. The post existed from 1918 to 1920 and from 1935 until the late 1960s. For much of World War II, a second inspector-ge ...
before retiring in 1941.[
In retirement Mitchell served as ]Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
Black Rod (officially known as the Lady Usher of the Black Rod or, if male, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod) is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parlia ...
. He held the post of Commandant of London Air Training Command from 1942 until his death in 1944 from a heart attack, at the age of 56 .[ He is buried in ]Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in southwest London is located in Putney Vale, surrounded by Putney Heath and Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. It is located within of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938. ...
, south west London.[See: Grave of Air Chief Marshall Sir William Mitchell, Putney Vale Cemetery.]
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, William
1888 births
1944 deaths
Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II
Military personnel from New South Wales
Devonshire Regiment officers
Highland Light Infantry officers
Royal Flying Corps officers
Royal Air Force air marshals
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Recipients of the Military Cross
Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
Aviation pioneers
Ushers of the Black Rod
Commandants of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell