| Duncan Grinnell-Milne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1896 |
| Died | November 1973 (aged 76 or 77) |
| Place of birth | Bromley, London, England |
| Place of death | Westminster, London, England |
| Allegiance |
 British Empire |
| Service/branch | Royal Flying Corps |
| Years of service | 1914 – 1926; 1939 – 1940 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Rifle Brigade, Royal Fusiliers, No. 16 Squadron RFC No. 56 Squadron RFC No. 214 Squadron RAF, No. 14 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
| Awards |
Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
| Other work | British Broadcasting, Author |
Captain Duncan William Grinnell-Milne MC, DFC & Bar (1896 – 1973) was an English First World War pilot credited with six confirmed aerial victories, a prisoner of war, a flying ace and an author who successfully escaped from German captivity. Initially serving with the 7th Bn Royal Fusiliers, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps before joining the Royal Air Force.
World War I[]
Grinnell-Milne was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade at age 18 in 1914. He was considered too young for frontline service. In an effort to evade this restriction, he transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, and from there to the Royal Flying Corps. He underwent pilot's training, was posted to 16 Squadron, and on 28 November 1915, in a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c, he shot down an Albatros C.I. He was himself shot down on 16 May 1916,[1] and spent over two years as a prisoner of war. He finally escaped and returned to aerial combat with No. 56 Squadron, flying the S.E.5 until the end of the war. From 5 October to 3 November 1918 he was credited with five more air victories; his final tally was a reconnaissance plane, three Fokker D.VIIs, and an observation balloon destroyed, and a D.VII driven down out of control.[2]
Between the wars[]
Grinnell-Milne was assigned to 214 Squadron in Egypt in 1919. He moved on to 14 Squadron the next year. His last assignment was Assistant Air Attaché in Paris. In 1925 his son Robin was born.[3] By the time he left the RAF in 1926, he had flown 60 different aircraft types and had amassed over 2,000 hours flight time.[4]
World War II[]
He returned to service during World War II, and flew several missions over Libya. He was then invalided out. He joined the British Broadcast Corporation and stayed with them through 1946.[5]
Public Citations & Awards[]
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)[]
| “ | Lieut. (A./Capt.) Duncan Grinnell-Milne. (FRANCE)
This officer has shown exceptional gallantry and disregard of danger on numerous occasions, notably on 5th October, when he obtained a direct hit on a train with a bomb; he then attacked and destroyed in flames a balloon on the ground. On his return journey he attacked troops and transport with marked success, dropping his last bomb in the middle of a crowd of enemy troops. |
” |
Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1919 (31170/2039)
Sources of information[]
- ↑ Pusher Aces of World War 1.. p. 27.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. pp. 177–178.
- ↑ Obituary Count Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. pp. 177–178.
- ↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. pp. 177–178.
References[]
- Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
- Pusher Aces of World War 1. Jon Guttman, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Pub Co, 2009. ISBN 1-84603-417-5, ISBN 978-1-84603-417-6.
Further reading[]
- Wind in the Wires by Duncan Grinnell-Milne
- An Escaper's Log by Duncan Grinnell-Milne
- Silent Victory by Duncan Grinnell-Milne
External links[]
The original article can be found at Duncan Grinnell-Milne and the edit history here.