Captain James Hart Mitchell was an English World War I 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...

 credited with 11 aerial victories. 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...

 during the war; he returned to his home regiment afterwards.

World War I

Mitchell originally served in the Essex Regiment

Essex Regiment

The Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...

 before his transfer 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...

 in 1917. After training, he was assigned to 28 Squadron, where he met budding ace Billy Barker

William George Barker

William George Barker VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars was a Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient...

. After his first three wins in France while flying a Sopwith Camel

Sopwith Camel

The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...

, the squadron transferred to the Italian Front. Mitchell scored eight more wins before being transferred out of combat duty in July 1918. When Barker was promoted to Flight Commander of C Flight despite having no experience of formation fighting, the more experienced Mitchell, already serving as a deputy Flight Commander, felt cheated. He eventually was promoted to the position, however.

During his tour of combat duty in Italy, Mitchell was awarded the Military Cross on 18 February 1918, although it would not be gazetted until 18 July 1918:
He was also awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, which was awarded on 2 July 1918, gazetted 21 September 1918.

The Italian government also expressed its gratitude for his service; on 2 November 1918, he was awarded Italy's Bronze Medal of Military Valor.

Post World War I

On 2 February 1919, Mitchell was placed on the Royal Air Force's unemployed list. On 6 June 1919, he gave up his RAF commission to return to ground duty with the army.

On 30 September 1921, Mitchell gave up his army commission. He then faded into obscurity.

Reference

• Franks, Norman
  Norman Franks
  Norman Leslie Robert Franks is an English writer who specialises in aviation books on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.-Biography:...
  
   Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1: Volume 52 of Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1841765341, 9781841765341.
• Ralph, Wayne. William Barker, VC: The Life, Death and Legend of Canada's Most Decorated War Hero John Wiley and Sons, 2007. ISBN 0470839678, 9780470839676

Endnotes