The Airmen's Stories - P/O K M Millist

Kenneth Milton Millist was born in April 1919, the son of Robert Gustavus Millist (1884-1961) and Daisy Jane Millist (nee Briggs 1885-1970) of Putney, London.

They were married in Victoria, Australia in 1915 and seem to have been Australian citizens.

KM Millist attended Emanuel School in London (below).

Above image courtesy of Tony Jones, Emanuel School.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in June 1939. He was serving with 98 Squadron until 22nd July 1940, when he was posted to 4 Ferry Pilot Pool.

He went to 5 OTU on 17th August and joined 615 Squadron at Prestwick on 3rd September. He moved to 73 Squadron at Castle Camps on the 18th. On his first flight with the squadron, he smashed his propeller and damaged his port wing in a heavy landing.

Above image courtesy of Tony Jones, Emanuel School.

Millist went to the Middle East with 73 Squadron in November 1940. On 4th February 1941 he was shot down in combat with CR42s over Barce and made a crash-landing ten miles north-east of Benina. He evaded capture and after three days met Australian troops. He then hitch-hiked to Derna and rejoined his squadron.

On 5th April Millist shot down a Ju87. Two days later he was killed while strafing ground targets near Mechili, Cyrenaica, Libya.

Millist was 22 years old, his body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. He was awarded the DFC, gazetted 4th November 1941 with effect from 15th March 1941.

Alamein photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo.