24th November 1930 - 25th July 2024. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Air Commodore John Mitchell, aged 93, who had been a Club Member for over 40 years.

 

After flying training on the Tiger Moth and Harvard, in Southern Rhodesia in 1949, John  initially flew the Vampire and Meteor before being “creamed off”, becoming a QFI at  Cranwell. In May 1955, further tours on the Meteor followed, serving at RAF Ahlhorn and  RAF Church Fenton, during which time he qualified as a pilot attack instructor.  

 

He moved onto the Air Fighting Development Squadron flying many aircraft types. It was  during this time that he became involved with his beloved Lightning in 1961 and  immediately adapted to the new fighter. He was closely involved in early air-to-air  refuelling development trials on the Lightning both at Boscombe Down and RAF  Wattisham, latterly against a Valiant tanker. Very shortly afterwards, he was co-opted to  undertake a series of classified trials to work out procedures for intercepting targets flying  at extreme altitudes. The target proved to be the Lockheed U2 flying at well above 70,000  feet! 

 

It was at this time, in May 1963, when he had his first contact with the Cobras 92 Sqn when he  assisted with the squadron’s conversion to the FMk2. Further time on the OCU, and 111  Sqn followed, where he served as a flight commander. During this time he achieved a first,  passing 1000 hours on the Lightning and flying a “Diamond 9”, with the Red Arrows, at  the Paris Air Show. The inevitable ground tour followed, albeit based at RAF Rheindahlen to sweeten the pill. 

 

In August 1971 John became OC 92 Squadron at RAF Gutersloh. He recalled that he  quickly laid claim to the title “King Cobra” when his squadron commander’s jet was painted with a crown on the fin above the squadron emblem. A hugely influential tour  ensued.  

 

He attended the Defence College at Latimer before, in 1977, he returned to Germany  becoming Station Commander at RAF Wildenrath as 19 and 92 Squadrons worked up to  operational status on the Phantom. 

 

Further ground tours followed and he served as Gp Capt AD/OS at CTTO, Director of the  Air Defence Environment Team at MOD PE and as the Military Adviser to the Minister of  Defence for Kuwait. 

 

During his service he was decorated a number of times. He was awarded the Queen’s  Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air, the Air Force Cross and Commander of the  Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. John retired as an Air Commodore in 1984. 

 

Following his RAF career, he was the Assistant Defence Adviser to BAE Systems before  becoming the Managing Director of Northrop Grumman UK, based in London. His family  lived in Hertfordshire for some years before moving back to Norfolk.