Duncan Grinnell-Milne
Encyclopedia
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
.
. He underwent pilot's training, was posted to 16 Squadron, and flew a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
to victory over an Albatros on 28 November 1915. He was subsequently shot down on 16 May 1916, and spent over two years as a prisoner of war. He finally escaped and returned to aerial combat at the end of the war. From 5 October through 3 November 1918, he won five more times; his final tally was a reconnaissance plane, three Fokker D.VII
s, and an observation balloon destroyed, and a D.VII driven down out of control.
in Paris. 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.
, 8 February 1919 (31170/2039)
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
Duncan William Grinnell-Milne MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(1896 – 1973) was an English First World War pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
credited with six confirmed aerial victories, a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
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
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
before joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
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 CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. He underwent pilot's training, was posted to 16 Squadron, and flew a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane which was in service with the Royal Flying Corps from 1912 until the end of World War I. The "Bleriot" in its designation refers to the fact that, like the Bleriot types it was of tractor configuration, with the...
to victory over an Albatros on 28 November 1915. He was subsequently shot down on 16 May 1916, and spent over two years as a prisoner of war. He finally escaped and returned to aerial combat at the end of the war. From 5 October through 3 November 1918, he won five more times; his final tally was a reconnaissance plane, three Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s, and an observation balloon destroyed, and a D.VII driven down out of control.
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 AttachéAir attaché
An air attaché is an Air Force officer who is part of a diplomatic mission; this post is normally filled by a high-ranking officer.An air attaché typically represents the chief of his home air force in the foreign country where he serves. The day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining contacts...
in Paris. 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.
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.Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Supplement to the London GazetteLondon Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
, 8 February 1919 (31170/2039)
Further reading
- Wind in the Wires by Duncan Grinnell-Milne
- An Escaper's Log by Duncan Grinnell-Milne
- Silent Victory by Duncan Grinnell-Milne