THOMAS JOSEPH MILLS
Thomas Mills was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force. Service No: 1250065
Whilst working at East Tilbury he was in Department 640 and 680 of the Re-Finishing Department.
In 1940 he wrote to the Bata Record to say that he was a Corporal in the R.A.F. hoping to go onto a Sergeant Pilot’s Course.
Thomas died on Saturday 22nd January 1944 following Air Operations in the Middle East. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Details From RAF Commands :
22-1-1944
No.3 OADU
Wellington XIII JA268
Departed Hurn 0007, for Rabat Sale, Morocco, via the Scilly Isles and Finistere. At 0130, No.168 (HT) Sqn RCAF Fortress 9205 left its base via the same route, and at 0307, when approximately 145m due west of Brest, the Fortress flying in cloud at 5,000 feet, collided with another aircraft. The Fortress manged to return to its base in the UK, with the white trimming tab and rudder of a Wellington aircraft wrapped around the leading edge of its port wing.
There was no doubt that the Fortress had collided with JA268, as it was the only Wellington aircraft reported missing in that area at that time.
AUS409554 F/Sgt (Pilot) David Brian LARKINS RAAF +
1250065 W/O (Nav.) Thomas Joseph MILLS RAFVR +
1044457 Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Basil STAMPER RAFVR +
Bata Record 11.02.44
