The Airmen's Stories - P/O J G P Millard

Jocelyn George Power Millard was born on 23rd February 1915. His father had been killed on 15th August 1916 when submarine E4 sank with all hands after a collision with E41 during exercises off Harwich.

Millard attended St. Edmunds College near Ware, Hertfordshire from 1928 to 1931. He joined the RAFVR in August 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot whilst working for the de Havilland Aircraft Company.

He carried out his week-end flying training at No. 1 E&RFTS Hatfield. Called up on 1st September 1939, he had completed his Service Flying Training course and had a total of 275 flying hours.

In October Millard was posted to 12 EFTS Prestwick for a flying instructors course. He instructed at 9 EFTS Ansty from April 1940, later moving to 12 FTS Grantham.

On 24th August he was commissioned and posted to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum.

Millard volunteered to serve with Fighter Command and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 4th September 1940, converted to Hurricanes and joined No. 1 Squadron at Wittering on the 21st.

Millard moved to 242 Squadron at Coltishall on 17th October and then to 615 Squadron at Northolt on 3rd November. He probably destroyed a Me109 on a sweep over France on 24th February 1941.

In early March 1941 he was posted away to CFS Upavon for an instructors course and in mid-April joined the staff at RAF College FTS Cranwell. He left for Canada in mid-July and began instructing at 35 SFTS there in September 1941.

Millard was there until mid-May 1944, serving as Flying Instructor, Flight Commander, Examining Officer and Squadron Commander.

He returned to the UK and went to Technical Training Command, for flying and administrative duties. Millard was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Squadron Leader.

He was employed for the rest of his career by the Ministry of Defence in various technical and engineering roles in the maintenance of airport efficiency until his retirement in 1980.

Millard died on 10th May 2010.