John Davidson Mitchner, (3 July 1914 – 8 December 1964) was a Canadian flying ace who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War. During his service with the RCAF, he was credited with at least ten aerial victories.
Born in Saskatoon, Mitchner joined the RCAF in 1940. Completing his flying training the following year, he was sent to the United Kingdom to serve with the Royal Air Force. He was posted to No. 263 Squadron, which operated the Westland Whirlwind heavy fighter and served with this unit until June 1942, at which time he took up an instructing position before periods of service with other fighter squadrons. In November 1942, he was posted to the Canadian No. 402 Squadron where he remained for over a year, achieving a number of aerial victories. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross towards the end of 1943, he spent several months of the following year in Canada before returning to operations with No. 421 Squadron. More aerial victories were scored while flying in operations in support of Operation Market Garden and he was then transferred to No. 416 Squadron. By the end of the year he was commanding the squadron, remaining in this post until early 1946. He continued to serve in the RCAF in the postwar period, until 1960 when he retired for health reasons. He died four years later, aged 50.
Early life
John Davidson Mitchner was born in the Saskatchewan city of Saskatoon, in Canada, on 3 July 1914. After completing his education, he worked as an accounts administrator until applying to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in October 1940.
Second World War
Once Mitchner's flying training was completed, in July 1941 he was sent to the United Kingdom to serve with the Royal Air Force as a non-commissioned officer. Two months later he was posted to No. 263 Squadron, a Fighter Command unit that was equipped with the twin-engined Westland Whirlwind heavy fighter and based at Charmy Down. At the time Mitchner joined the squadron, it was regularly flying on offensive operations to Europe but over the winter months, it was engaged in convoy patrols. During this time Mitchner was promoted to flight sergeant.
In June 1942, Mitchner took up an instructing role at No. 55 Operational Training Unit but was only there for a month before being transferred to Mo. 247 Squadron, which was operating in a night fighter role. This was a short-lived assignment, for the following month, he was again transferred, this time to No. 116 Squadron, an anti-aircraft calibration unit.
Service with No. 402 Squadron
Mitchner returned to Fighter Command in November 1942 with a posting to No. 402 Squadron, a RCAF unit that was based at Kenley and operating the Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX fighter. Flying as part of the Kenley Wing, it was engaged in fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions to Europe. Mitchner was commissioned as a pilot officer on 12 January 1943 and five days later achieved his first aerial victory, a Focke Wulf 190 fighter that was damaged near Cabourg. In March the squadron moved north to Digby for a period of less intensive duties and training, but returned to offensive operations a few months later. Mitchner destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and damaged a second while flying an operation to The Netherlands on 27 July and around this time, was promoted to flying officer. On 4 September he shot down a Bf 109 near Saint-Pol, and four days later claimed another as probably destroyed, to the north of Arras.
On 24 September 1943, Mitchner, now promoted to flight lieutenant, shared in the destruction of two Fw 190s, one confirmed and the other deemed a probable, both over the Beauvais region. He was credited with a share in another Fw 190 probably destroyed three days afterwards. He damaged a Bf 109 on 3 October and exactly a month later, destroyed two Bf 109s near IJmuiden. Shortly afterwards, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the official announcement being made on 9 November. The published citation read: