Mitchell, Victor Edwin (Warrant Officer 1st Class)

Prisoner of War 1942-July-17

Warrant Officer 1st Class Victor Edwin Mitchell RCAF

Birth Date: 1922-April-01

Born: Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada

Parents: Son of Frank Mitchell and Margaret (nee Crowe) Mitchell

Spouse: Margaret L K (nee Jones) Mitchell

Home: Westmount, Quebec

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: 1940-June

Service

RCAF

Unit

80 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Strike True

Base

RAF Station El Amiriya, Alexandria, Egypt

Rank

Warrant Officer 1st Class

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

R/56121
PoW: 25055

Home

Westmount, Quebec

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Mission

Hurricane BM984

Combat 1942-July-17 to 1942-July-17

80 (F) Sqn (RAF) Landing Ground 92, near Alexandria, Egypt

80 Squadron (Strike true) RAF, Landing Ground 92, Royal Air Force Station El Amiriya, Alexandria, Egypt. Hurricane IIc BM 984 was shot down, likely by flak near El Alamein, Egypt. Pilot Warrant Officer Class II Victor Edwin Mitchell (RCAF), injured and covered in oil, was captured by a German Artillery unit. As a Prisoner of War, Mitchell was transported to Germany via aircraft Libya, on to Crete, then by train to Rome and finally flight on to Germany where he ended his journey at Stalag 8B. After liberation, the now Warrant Officer 1st Class Mitchell was returned safe to the UK 1945-05-10

VICTOR EDWIN MITCHELL Victor Mitchell of Milton passed away peacefully in his sleep at Milton District Hospital on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the age of 92. Predeceased by his dear wife Margaret (nee Jones); survived by his youngest brother and best friend Gord. Predeceased by siblings Lois, Doug and Norm. Lovingly remembered by his children Grant (Londa) and Greg (Diana). Cherished Gramps of Jeff (Rachel), Kim (Corey), Katie (Glenn), Warren and great- granddaughter Serena.

Vic was born in Montreal April 1, 1922 to Margaret (nee Crowe) and Francis Mitchell and at the young age of 18 enrolled in the RCAF during WWII.

In February 1942, 92 Squadron, RAF was posted to Egypt to join Air Headquarters Western Desert to support the Allies on the ground. Personnel arrived in Egypt in April but no aircraft were available. Some pilots flew operations with Hawker Hurricanes of No. 80 Squadron.

He was shot down over North Africa flying a Hawker Hurricane and then held in German POW camps for three years.

After the war Vic studied and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sir George Williams University and worked for a few different companies including The Electric Reduction Company (ERCO), retiring as the Materiel Manager with St. Lawrence Starch in Mississauga in 1989. The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to Dr. King and the nurses of the CC Unit at MDH. Family and friends are invited to visit at the McKersie-Kocher Funeral Home, 114 Main Street East, Milton, 905-878-4452, on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. with the funeral service at the same location at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Donations to Milton District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as an expression of sympathy.

Royal Canadian Air Force W/O V.E. Mitchell Capture

W/O V.E.Mitchell POW

Sketch of W/O V.E.Mitchell by war artist John Worsley POW

Hurricane serial: BM984

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes.

Sea Hurricane

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.

For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942. It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF. These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Folding Wings

The idea of adding folding wings to the Sea Hurricane was examined in 1940 but ultimately abandoned due to concerns about the aircraft's ability to accommodate the extra weight and the urgent need for next-generation aircraft. The Sea Hurricane was primarily designed as a stopgap measure for naval operations, which limited the resources available for such modifications.

Examination of the Concept

Weight Concerns: There were significant worries about the Sea Hurricane's ability to handle the additional weight that folding wings would introduce.
Resource Limitations: The Sea Hurricane was intended as a stopgap solution for naval operations, which meant that resources for further modifications were limited.

The Sea Hurricane was adapted from the original Hurricane design to meet the needs of naval aviation. Key modifications included:

Strengthened Airframe: To withstand the rigors of carrier operations.
Arrestor Hook: Essential for landing on aircraft carriers.
Naval Equipment: Ensured functionality in maritime conditions.

While the folding wing concept was explored, the pressing demands of the war and the need for more advanced aircraft led to its dismissal. The Sea Hurricane continued to serve effectively in its modified form without the folding wings.

YouTube Hurricane