George Mills (RAF officer)

Sir George Holroyd Mills

Air Vice-Marshal W Elliot, the former Air Officer Commanding the Balkan Air Force (left), gives the latest information regarding Balkan operations to his successor, Air Vice-Marshal G H Mills (right) at BAF Headquarters, Bari, Italy, 1945
Born 1902
Dartford, Kent
Died 1971
Hillingdon, London
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands held No. 115 Squadron
RAF Watton
Balkan Air Force
No. 1 Group
Air Headquarters Malaya
Bomber Command
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Flying Cross
Other work Black Rod

Air Chief Marshal Sir George Holroyd Mills GCB, DFC (26 March 1902 – 14 April 1971) was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After his retirement from the RAF, Mills served as Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament until 1970. He was also a trustee of the Imperial War Museum.

RAF career

Mills joined the RAF College at Cranwell as a cadet in 1920 and became one of the earliest graduates of the newly formed College.[1] After graduating he spent a short time at the RAF Depot.[1] Mills was then posted to Mesopotamia flying DH 9As with No. 8 Squadron.[1] He transferred to No. 100 Squadron in 1927 flying Hawker Horsley aircraft.[2] He attended the RAF Staff College in 1935.[1]

He served in the Second World War taking up command of No. 115 Squadron in late 1939 and then joining the Air Staff at Headquarters Bomber Command before becoming Station Commander at RAF Watton.[1] He was appointed Director of Policy (General) at the Air Ministry in September 1943 and Air Officer Commanding Balkan Air Force in February 1945.[1]

After the War he was appointed Director of Plans at the Air Ministry in 1946, Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group in 1949 and Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Malaya in 1952.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command in April 1953, Commander Allied Air Forces Central Europe in January 1956 and Chairman of the British Joint Services Mission to Washington, D.C. and UK Representative on the NATO Standing Group in July 1959.[1]

He retired from the Royal Air Force on 18 September 1962.[3]

In retirement he served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament.[1]

His sons are Derek Mills (RAF officer and Spitfire pilot) Nigel Mills (RAF officer) and daughter Virginie Mills.

Honours and awards

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir George Mills
  2. ↑ Spirit of the Air, Volume 3, Nos. 1 & 2, 2008, p. 15
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42820. p. 8458. 26 October 1962. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34860. p. 3256. 31 May 1940. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37119. p. 2936. 14 June 1945. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40053. p. 3. 1 January 1954. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41589. p. 3. 1 January 1959. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
Military offices
Preceded by
William Elliot		 Air Officer Commanding the Balkan Air Force
1945 		Air force disestablished
Preceded by
Sir Hugh Lloyd		 Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command
1953–1955 		Succeeded by
Sir Harry Broadhurst
Preceded by
Sir Basil Embry		 Commander Allied Air Forces Central Europe
1956–1959 		Succeeded by
Sir Harry Broadhurst
Preceded by
Sir Michael Denny		 Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission to Washington and
UK Military Representative to NATO
1959–1962 		Succeeded by
Sir Michael West
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Brian Horrocks		 Black Rod
1963–1970 		Succeeded by
Sir Frank Twiss
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, December 09, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.