Frank Mitchell 1913 - 1998

Wartime 1941 - 1945 Royal Naval Photographer

To see the album of Frank's photographs covering the period from January 1944 to May 1945 click here to see chapter list

Certificate of the Service of MITCHELL, Frank in the Royal Navy (form S.459)

Port; Portsmouth
Official number; F/MX102076 (WAS JX 269145)
21 May 1941 dispersed 14 November 1945

Rank	Ships/shore bases and period	Information or link	Rank	Ships/shore bases and period	Information or link
Ordinary Seaman	Royal Arthur 21-5-41 to 25-6-41 Victory 26-6-41 to 4-7-41 Excellent 5-7-41 to 24-8-41 Daedalus 25-8-41 to 13-11-41	Skegness RN Barracks, Portsmouth Whale Island Portsmouth Lee on Solent	Acting Leading Photo (A) (Ty)	Landrail (886) 7-7-43 to 11-7-43 Attacker (886) 12-7-43 to 10-8-43 Cormorant II (886) 11-8-43 to 23-9-43 Attacker (886) 24-9-43 to 17-10-43 Ringtail (886) 18-10-43 to 21-10-43 Daedalus 22-10-43 to 20-11-43 Waxwing 21-11-43 to 1-12-43 Saker 2-12-43 to 23-3-44 Indomitable 24-3-44 to 3-5-44 Landrail (854) 4-5-44 to 21-5-44 Daedalus (854) 22-5-44 to 6-7-44	HMS Attacker Gibraltar Burscough HMS Waxwing Squantum NAS 854 Squadron Indomitable
A/Photo (A)	Daedalus 14-11-41 to 24-11-41 Jackdaw 25-11-41 to 14-5-42	Lee on Solent Crail	Leading Photo (A) (Ty)	Daedalus (854) 7-7-44 to 5-9-44 Ukussa (854) 6-9-44 to 25-11-44 Illustrious (854) 26-11-44 to 17-5-45 Illustrious 18-5-45 to 31-7-45 Daedalus 1-8-45 to 9-1-46	Katukurunda HMS Illustrious
Photo (A)	Jackdaw 15-5-42 to 28-9-42 Daedalus (837) 29-9-42 to 18-10-42 Vulture (837) 19-10-42 to 16-11-42 Sparrow hawk (837) 17-11-42 to 29-12-42 Jackdaw (837) 30-12-42 to 1-1-43 Dasher (837) 2-1-43 to 4-3-43 Sparrow hawk (837) 5-3-43 to 24-3-43 Jackdaw (837) 25-3-43 to 15-4-43 Argus (837) 16-4-43 to 28-4-43 Landrail (837) 28-4-43 to 14-6-43 Landrail (886) 15-6-43 to 6-7-43	837 Squadron St Merryn Hatston Orkney HMS Dasher HMS Argus Campbeltown 886 Squadron

THE ALBUM

A Record of 854 Squadron

During the period September 1944 to July 1945 Frank kept a collection of his photographic work in an album. I suppose it was because it had pictures of planes, boats and far away places I can remember it as one of my earliest memories. I have started adding the photographs to this web site. To view the pictures click below:
Chapter 1: 854 Squadron in the USA --- For background information covering this period click here.
Chapter 2: 854 Squadron Take To The Air
Chapter 3: 854 Squadron on and off duty
Chapter 4: HMS Indomitable
Chapter 5: May 1944 - D Day preparation
Chapter 6: The voyage to the Pacific: Ashore in Alexandria
Chapter 7: The voyage to the Pacific: Suez Canal
Chapter 8: The voyage to the Pacific: Aden & India
Chapter 9: The voyage to the Pacific: His Majesty's Ships
Chapter 10: The Pacific: Preparing for action on Illustrious
Chapter 11: The Pacific: Into action on Illustrious
Chapter 12: The Pacific: Australia for repairs, rest and recuperation
Chapter 13: The Pacific: The final raids
Chapter 14: The Pacific: Homeward Bound
Chapter 15: Home

Finally, if I had to nominate my favourite picture it would have to be the group picture of the squadron at the end of the campaign that is in chapter 14. The picture will mean different things to different people but to me it is a record of my father as a photographer. He is standing at the right front looking at the people in the photograph because in his right hand, just out of picture he is holding the remote shutter release. He would have waited until everyone was looking forward with a glass raised and perhaps smiling before he pressed the shutter. See what you think! Here is a link - click here.

If you have any questions please e-mail Howard at howardandbettymitchell@ntlworld.com