Richard Maxwell "Dickie" Milne RAF   W/C DFC & Bar Born 8 July 1919 in Edinburgh. Short Service Commission in July 1937. Known as "Max" or "Dickie" in the RAF. Completed training with a Distinguished Pass. [1st place in flying, gunnery & ground subjects] Posted as a staff pilot to 8 Armament Training School. Joined 151 Squadron in January 1939. Fought in France & Southern England in 1940. Attended CFS Upavon in November 1940. Did assorted staff and training duties until. Posted to 92 Squadron, summer 1941. Flew to the Middle East, 17 October 1941. Took command of 92 Sqn at North Weald in Jan. 1942. In January 1943 he took command of the Biggin Hill Wing. Shot down by 190s on 14 March 1943 [but not before claiming one destroyed]. Picked up by German launch and made POW. Released in May 1945 & from the RAF in 1946. Later involved with aircraft sales (amongst other things). He retired to Andorra & passed away at some point.

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Flying Officer Richard Maxwell MILNE (40129) - Distinguished Flying Cross -
London Gazettes #34935, 30 August, 1940

Flying Officer Milne has personally destroyed seven enemy aircraft, and seriously damaged a number of others. He has led his section throughout with skill and courage, and has set an example to other members of the squadron

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"Spitfire Mark VB, AD233 'ZD-F', being flown by the Commanding Officer of No.222 Squadron RAF, Squadron Leader Richard Milne, when based at North Weald, Essex. On 25 May, AD233 was shot down by Focke-Wulf 190s over Gravelines, while being flown by S/L Jankiewicz."

Tangmere, January 1943. S/L Hugo Throssell Armstrong DFC & Bar, RAAF, of Perth, WA (centre), Squadron Commander of 611 (West Lancashire) Spitfire Sqn, shot down two Messerschmitt BF109 aircraft during a day raid on Britain on 19 Jan. 1943. Also in the picture are W/C Richard Maxwell Milne RAF, Wing Leader, Biggin Hill Wing, (left) & Adjutant Robert G. Gouby, 340 Sqn. (Free French Air Force) (right) who also shot down two German Focke-Wulf FW190 aircraft each. S/L Armstrong was a member of the first Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) course & the first EATS graduate to command a squadron. He was killed in action on 5 February 1943 while flying over the English Channel.

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"Fighter pilots of 92 "East India" Sqn. holding the silver tankards presented to them by the East India Fund Committee, Bengal, above a piece of the fuselage of a destroyed German aircraft. Milne is 3rd from the right.

Max and his personal Spit "R-M" BS240

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Acting S/L Richard Maxwell MILNE, DFC (40129) - Bar to the DFC - No 92 Squadron
London Gazette #35341, 7 November 1941

Since assuming command in September 1941, this officer has led the squadron on 19 offensive operations over enemy territory. In the course of these operations, Squadron Leader Milne has destroyed at least 3 and damaged 2 enemy aircraft, bringing his total victories to 11 destroyed, 2 probably destroyed and 11 damaged. His leadership has been characterized by dash and good judgment.

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A publicity shot for the generous folks of New York that gave England the money to buy this plane (or one like it). "New Yorklin" was chalked on for the shoot.

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Milne under a Hurricane Spinner

Victories Include : 17 May 1940 18 May 1940 22 May 1940 9 July 1940 12 July 1940 29 July 1940 13 Aug 1940 15 Aug 1940 18 Aug 1940 27 Sept 1941 13 Oct 1941 20 Jan 1943 10 Mar 1943 14 Mar 1943 one Ju87 one Me110 one Ju87 one Me109E 1/2 Do17 one Me110 two Do17s one Me109E one He111 one Me109 one Me109 two Me109Fs one Me109E one Me109E one FW190 one Me109F one FW190 one FW190 destroyed unconfirmed * destroyed destroyed destroyed damaged destroyed destroyed destroyed [1] probable & damaged destroyed, destroyed & damaged destroyed & destroyed destroyed destroyed 14.5 / 2 / 11 * Shown here as a probable in his final score [1] Maj. Reinhold Tamm Score from Aces High where it says he has 11 damaged claims but info for only 3 of them (as shown)

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Thanks go out to

son Hamish Milne for the photos & infos !

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