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2396843 NZ Pilot Officer Herbert Robert MITCHELL. (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. and Mrs. W. Mitchell of Reefton.

Herbert Mitchell was born at Havelock, Marlborough on the 13th March 1917. He received his secondary education at the Reefton District High School, passing the Public Service Entrance examination. At school he played football for the First Fifteen, and afterwards for the Waratah Football Club. He also played golf, and took part in rifle shooting and deer-stalking. After leaving school he was employed in various capacities including mining and tractor-driving for the Public Works Department, and at the time of applying for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots on the 27th March 1939, was in the employ of Mr. S. Patterson, Undertaker of Greymouth.

Pilot Officer Mitchell was not accepted for training under the Civil Reserve Scheme, owing to the outbreak of war but was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 17th December 1939 afterwards proceeding to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, on the 16th January 1940 to commence his flying training. He was posted to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram, on the 11th March. Here he trained on Fairey Gordon aircraft and on the 28th June was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While overseas on the 1st September 1941 he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant. And commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 5th JANUARY 1942. Meantime on the 12th July 1940 he had embarked by the "Rangitane" for the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Mitchell arrived at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, on the 27th August and proceeded to No. 6 Operational Training Unit, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, on the 10th September, where he converted to and flew Miles Master and Hurricane aircraft. On the 4th October he was posted to No. 3 Squadron at Turnhouse, Edinburgh, later at Montrose, Wick and Castletown all in Scotland and then on the 20th November to No. 615 Squadron at Northolt Middlesex. On the 1st December he was transferred to No. 260 Squadron first at Skittan in the far North of Scotland and alter at Drem near Edinburgh.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Pilot Officer Mitchell: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15270703/herbert-robert-mitchell