John Davidson "Mitch" Mitchner

_____________________________________________

Beurling Fights Again, Bags Nazi Over France

London, Sept. 24, 1943 - (CP) - Canadian flying aces in some of the most productive aerial fighting since the days of the Battle of Britain three years ago destroyed five enemy fighters today in widespread actions over France.
F/O George (Buzz) Beurling of Verdun, Que., marked his long-sought return to action by shooting down a Focke-Wulf 190 to raise his score of enemy planes to 30.
Maintaining the blistering pace set by R.C.A.F. night Mosquito fliers, the Canadian pilots knocked out of the sky 5 of the 20 enemy planes downed by Fighter Command during the day.
Three of four German fighters shot down Thursday night were victims of Canadian airmen. F/L M. W. Beveridge of Montreal destroyed two and F/O J. R. F. Johnson of Omemee, Ont., got one.
Flying with the Wolf Squadron under S/L Norman Fowlow of Windsor, N.S., Beurling saw the FW-190 above him. He circled and tore off the enemy's port wing with a single burst.
W/C L. V. Chadburn of Aurora, Ont., and F/L J. D. Mitchner of Saskatoon shared one of the day's bag. The others fell to Wing Cmdr. Hugh Godefroy of Toronto, who has just taken over command of a Canadian fighter wing; F/L Robert Buckham of Vancouver, leader of the Red Indian Squadron, and W/C E. F. J. Charles of Vancouver, who flies with the R.A.F.
Buckham, who also was credited with damaging one plane, blew an FW190 to bits after chasing it from 20,000 feet almost to the ground. It was his second victory in five days.
In one of the sweeps by Godefroy's squadron - he was squadron leader of the Wolf Squadron before his new appointment – P/O William F. Cook of Clinton, Ont., dived his Spitfire to low level to put out of service a French freight engine, although flak from the train broke part of one wing.
Beurling had been yearning to get back into combat flying ever since he was stationed in Malta where he ran his score of enemy planes downed from two to 29.
He transferred from the R.A.F. to the R.C.A.F. on Sept 1 to "get back into the air." He had been assigned to an instructor's job in an R.A.F. gunner school after his return to Britain from a leave in Canada.

___________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Awards List in RCAF

Ottawa, Nov. 12, 1943 (CP) In one of its biggest list of decorations for Canadian airmen, the R.C.A.F. announced tonight the award of one bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, 28 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and four Distinguished Flying Medals to R.C.A.F. men overseas. In addition, the list included six awards to R.C.A.F. men for gallant and prompt action. The list of D.F.C. and D.F.M. winners, with next of kin, include:

F/L J. A. Morton, Mrs. Rosaline I. Ross (mother), Saskatoon
F/L M. K. A. Cybulski, Mrs. Barbara Cybulski (mother), Renfrew, Ont.
S/L C. C. Moran, Mrs. F. Moran (mother), Trenton, Ont.
F/L J. D. Mitchner, C. D. Mitchner (father), Saskatoon
S/L M. W. Beveridge, J. B. Beveridge (father), Westmount, Que.
F/L R. T. Phipps, Harry V. Phipps (father) Strome, Alberta

__________________________________________________________

This officer has completed a large number of sorties including several very successful attacks on shipping. He is a most determined and able leader whose confidence in action have proved inspiring in combat. Flight Lieutenant Mitchner has destroyed three enemy aircraft.

__________________________________________________________

500 American Bombers Blast Submarine Base In Biggest Day Attack

London, Nov. 3, 1943 (AP) — The largest force of heavy bombers ever sent out by the United States Air Force — probably 500 or more — battered its way with long-range fighter protection through strong German opposition to smash the important port and naval base of Wilhelmshaven and other targets in Northwestern Germany today.
The raiding force destroyed 34 German planes, 18 falling to the heavy bombers and 16 being shot down by the escorting fighters. In other daylight operations over Occupied France and Holland, Spitfire pilots knocked down 12 German fighters, all but one being victims of Canadian pilots. Medium bombers destroyed two, bringing the total loss for the day to 48 for the Nazis.
The total Allied losses for the day were five heavy bombers, two medium bombers and three fighters, a joint Air Ministry and United States Air Force communiqué said.
The cross-Channel air war continued after dark with a short alert in London—indicating Britain's 13th German raid in 19 nights—and German radio stations went off the air, often a sign that the R.A.F. is raiding the Continent.
(D.N.B., German agency, said in a broadcast that the R.A.F. bombed Cologne wednesday night.)
The record raid by the heavy bombers followed earlier sweeps over the Continent by 8th Air Force medium bombers escorted by R. A. F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires in attacks on enemy airfields at St. Andre de L’Eure and Tricqueville in France and Amsterdam-Schipol in Holland.
In other operations Typhoon bombers raided shipping along the French coast, damaging 12 barges and four boats
Today's attack was the sixth American raid on Wilhelmshaven and the third assault on which escorts went all the way to the target and back with the bombers but it was the fighters' longest trip. The other two-way trips were to Emden, a little short of Wilhelmshaven,
Vigorous opposition by groups of as many as 75 German fighters were reported by the fliers. But, they were unanimously enthusiastic about the way the two-engine twin-tail Lightnings — flying close to the bombers while Thunderbolts provided high and surrounding cover—kept the Germans on the run.
Nine of the German fighters destroyed by Spitfires were victims of an R.C.A.F. fighter wing commanded by Wing Cmdr. Lloyd V. Chadburn of Aurora, Ont., and were destroyed as the fighters protected Allied bombers raiding Schipol Airdrome at Amsterdam. The other two were shot down by Sqdn, Ldr. Charles Magwood of Toronto and Flt. Lt. John Sherlock of Calgary while escorting bombers in a raid on St. Andrew de L’Eure Airport in France.
Chadburn and Flt Lt, Jack Mitchner of Kitchener, Ont., each got two planes. Other Canadian victors: Flt. Lt. Danny Noonan, Kingston, Ont., 1½ planes; Flt. Lt. Arthur Sager, Vancouver, one-half plane; Flt. Lt. Doug Booth, Vancouver, Flt. Lt. Jeff Northcott, Minnedosa, Man., and a Toronto flying officer named Jacobs, one each.

________________________________________________________

Cut Excellent Airfield From Netherlands Bush

By MARGARET ECSER with the RCAF in Holland,
April 2, 1945 - (CP) - An RCAF Spitfire wing now flies from a made-to-measure airdrome sliced out of a Netherlands forest.
As one airman put it, "It's like a summer camp in Northern Ontario -except there's no place to fish."
Six weeks ago, this was a young pine wood. Today it's a "super" airfield, but the forest still crowds around its fringes and among the trees Nissan huts, where RCAF personnel live, have been built.

''Best and Safest"
"It's the best and safest airfield we've ever had," said the commanding officer, pointing out the double-perimeter track, one for aircraft, the other for transport, and the wide, safe runways of metal mesh that won't be muddy in any weather.
From those strips Canadian Spitfires fly on patrols over the British 2nd Army lines and escort heavy and medium bombers on the way to blast German cities. Sqdn. Ldr. Danny Brown of Elm Park, N.J., commands the Red Indian Squadron: Sqdn. Ldr. T. D. Mitchner, Saskatoon, the City of Oshawa Squadron, and Sqdn. Ldr. Art Sager of Vancouver, the Hornet Squadron.
On one side of the field is the brain center of the airfield, the control tower caravan which helps make this a super airfield. Sqdn. Ldr. Reg. Fisher of Toronto described how difficult it was to control an airfield with planes landing at both ends. In the glass dome of the caravan, Flt, Lt. Ivan Tinkess of Orangeville, Ont., earphones on his head, seemed to be answering a dozen telephones as he brought in planes from one fighter squadron. There's so much strain on the job that most control officers can work only five or six hours.

Brought Him In
While a lost pilot was being guided back, FO. Johnny Maffre of Montreal came into the caravan to say "Thanks for helping me get back this morning, boys. I didn't think for a while that I'd make it." He had been flying over the front line when his engine started to splutter.
The flight lieutenant called to the squadron leader that "there's a kite upstairs with his wheels half way down and they're stuck. He's almost out of gas:'
Sqdn. Ldr. Bill Boggs of Noranda, Que., the station's chief technical officer, was on the job in a few seconds. He watched the plane and relayed advice to the pilot until finally someone shouted the wheels had shaken down.
In one hut near the field, PO. Wallace Tobey, of Tara, Ont., Flt. Lt. Ted Neapole of Montreal and Flt. Lt. Jerry Anglin of Ottawa were writing letters around a brisk fire. Wide windows at each end of the but let in light and the walls were gay with pin-up girls. Expeditions into ruined German towns not far away netted the men a radio, end tables for their camp cots and as many mirrors as you'll find in a camp for women.

________________________________________________________

MITCHNER, S/L John Davidson, DFC (J16799) - Bar to DFC - No.416 Squadron
Award effective 6 July 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945.
Medal presented 22 February 1947.

This officer has completed many sorties against the enemy since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He has consistently displayed a high degree of skill and determination and has been responsible for the destruction of ten enemy aircraft. One day in April 1945, Squadron Leader Mitchner led two armed reconnaissances, resulting in the destruction of forty-five motor transport, whilst more than another 100 were damaged. His devotion to duty has been most commendable.

________________________________________________________

Victories as follows :

[1] Shared with Bruce Innes

(serials given in Chris Shores, Aces High, 2nd edition)

________________________________________________________

MITCHNER, S/L John Davidson, DFC (J16799) - Netherlands Flying Cross - No.416 Sq.
Awarded 1 January 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 183/46 dated 22 February 1946.
Commanded No.416 from November 1944 to January 1946. The unit should perhaps read
No.421 Squadron, given that he was with that unit in the period cited below (HH)

This officer has been awarded the Netherlands Flying Cross for distinguishing himself during the operations near Arnhem from September 17 to 25, by deeds of initiative, courage and perseverance and showing in every respect an uncommon devotion to duty and a great tenacity of purpose.

Public Record Office Air 2/9642 has recommendation which
reads differently and gives rank as Flight Lieutenant :

This officer is a pilot and flight commander of outstanding ability. During the invasion of Holland, as squadron commander, he participated in many successful sorties in support of the First Airborne Division at Arnhem. During these operations large formations of enemy aircraft were encountered. Flight Lieutenant Mitchner enabled his squadron to destroy at least 18 enemy aircraft, while may more were damaged and probably destroyed. Flight Lieutenant Mitchner himself destroyed five aircraft. Throughout the operations Flight Lieutenant Mitchner set a very fine example.

_____________________________________________

--- Canadian Aces ---

_____________________________________________