Maurice Mounsdon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maurice Mounsdon
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Mounsdon during his military service
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| Birth name | Maurice Hewlett Mounsdon |
| Nickname(s) | Mark |
| Born | 11 February 1918 Lichfield, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 6 December 2019 (aged 101) Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Flight lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 56 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Britain |
Flight Lieutenant Maurice Hewlett Mounsdon (born February 11, 1918 – died December 6, 2019) was a brave British pilot. He flew with the Royal Air Force during World War II. He is remembered for his courage during the Battle of Britain.
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Flying for the Royal Air Force
Maurice, also known as "Mark," began his pilot training on August 24, 1939. He joined 56 Squadron on June 3, 1940. This was right in the middle of the Battle of Britain. This battle was a major air fight between Britain and Germany.
Mark flew a Hurricane plane. On July 3, he helped destroy a German Dornier Do 17 bomber. Three weeks later, he likely shot down a Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive-bomber. As the battle got more intense in August, he destroyed two Messerschmitt fighter planes. He also probably destroyed a third.
He shot down or damaged about seven German aircraft in total. On August 31, 1940, German fighters shot down his plane over Colchester. Mark survived the crash but was badly burned. He spent nine months recovering in hospitals. One of these was the Queen Victoria Hospital. This hospital was famous for helping people with severe burns. He also became part of the Guinea Pig Club, a group for pilots who had reconstructive surgery.
After His Injury
While he was getting better, Mark worked at the main office of RAF North Weald. After his surgery, he could not fly in combat anymore. So, he became an instructor at RAF Bottisham. Later, he became a flight commander at RAF Booker.
When World War II ended in 1945, he joined a special team. This team searched Germany for advanced weapons. They looked for things like early jet planes and rockets. In 1946, he left the military. He went back to his old job as an engineer. He worked on inventions and patents, like special winches for tall masts.
Life After the War
While he was recovering in the hospital, Mark married his childhood sweetheart, Mary. In the late 1970s, the couple moved to Menorca, a Spanish island. They lived there until Mary passed away in 1993.
In September 2018, Mark turned 100 years old. To celebrate, the famous Red Arrows flying team honored him. They performed a special flypast over the coast of Menorca. It was a wonderful tribute to a war hero.
Mark Mounsdon passed away on December 6, 2019, at the age of 101. He was living in a nursing home on Menorca. The head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Michael Wigston, spoke about him. He said that Mark's "bravery and sacrifice should never be forgotten."
See also
Images for kids
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Hurricane LF363 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with Mounsdon's markings in 2005.
