Sgt E Mitchell RAF – 103 Squadron – 1939 / 40/ 41
103 Squadron Mitchell E
Sgt Mitchell was a pre war regular airman who served with 103 Squadron in the immediate pre war era and the early stages of WW2. His role was that of Wireless Operator / Air Gunner and he left with 103 Squadron for France in September 1939 being based at Challerange, Ardennes.
At this time he flew with S/L J Coverdale the 103 Squadron Commander and he flew the following two operations.
17 September 1939 – S/L Coverdale – K9372 – Up 0855 – Down 1100 - First reconnaissance carried out between Bouzonville and Lauterbours along the Franco German border. This was completed without incident
30 September 1939 – S/L Coverdale – K9269 – Up 1005 – Down 1110 – Another reconnaissance along the Franco German border which was completed without incident
103 Squadron Coverdale
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There is no record of the operations he flew during the Battle of France and who he flew with but there is no reason to believe he was not active during this time.
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On return to the UK he is recorded as flying the following sorties on Fairey Battles
22 July 1940 – P/O J Hayter – E5331 – Up 0100 – Down 0125 - First operational sortie from England against oil storage tanks at Z3 Rotterdam. Due to an unserviceable gyro Hayter was forced to turn back. By trying to follow his instrument the pilot lost his position and had to home on W/T.
He then flew 3 operations on Battles with Midshipman Constable as follows :-
09-Sep-40 – Calais - Invasion barges – Battle – L5336 – M/mn Constable RN - Airfield under air raid alert on return. Bombs dropping in vicinity
14-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – P2306 – M/mn Constable RN - Bad weather at base. Diverted to Feltwell
22-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – L5038 – M/mn Constable RN - Port bomb doors failed to open. Hit by light flak.
Squadron then converted to Vickers Wellington twin engined bombers and Mitchell flew with several pilots flying as Wireless Operator as follows :-
22-Dec-40 – Ostend - Shipping and barges – Wellington – R1043 – Sgt Elliot
10-Feb-41 – Hannover - General attack – Wellington – R1445 – S/L Mellor
03-Mar-41 – Cologne - General attack – Wellington – R1452 – S/L Mellor
13-Mar-41 – Hamburg - U boat yards – Wellington – T2999 – Sgt WR Crich
21-Mar-41 – Lorient - U Boat base – Wellington – R1217 – Sgt WR Crich
06-Apr-41 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – R1217 - Sgt WR Crich
15-Apr-41 – Kiel - Docks - Wellington - T2996 – P/O RS Chisholm
17-Apr-41 - Berlin - General attack - Wellington - T2996 – P/O RS Chisholm
05-May-41 - Mannheim - General attack - Wellington - R1445 – F/O Harper
07-May-41 - St Nazaire - U boat base - Wellington - R1445 – F/O Harper - Combat. Attacked by EA. Rear gunner replied and claimed as probably destroyed
08-May-41 - Bremen - Industrial area - Wellington - R1445 – F/O Harper - Combat. Homebound approached by TE EA. Rear gunner opened fire. EA veered off.
10-May-41 - Hamburg - Railway station - Wellington - R1445 – F/O Harper
12-May-41 - Mannheim - General attack - Wellington - R1445 – F/O Harper
103 Squadron Crich and Chisholm
103 Squadron Wellington R1445
At this point he disappears from the Battle Order and completed his tour which has lasted approx 19 months. He was probably posted as an instructor at some Operational Training Unit and I believe survived the war
Compiled by David Fell. Photos from the Mitchell family and my archive
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