View source for Denis Miller

{{other people|Dennis Miller}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          =Denis Miller
| image         =
| caption       =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1918|11|12}}
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2009|3|24|1918|11|12}}
| placeofburial_label = 
| placeofburial = 
| birth_place  =
| death_place  =
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname      = Dusty
| allegiance    = [[United Kingdom]]
| branch        = [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
| serviceyears  =
| rank          = Squadron Leader
| servicenumber = N.Z.402207
| unit          =
| commands      =
| battles       =
| battles_label =
| awards        = Distinguished Service Order <br /> Distinguished Flying Cross
| relations     =
| laterwork     =
}}
[[Squadron Leader]] '''Denis "Dusty" Miller''' [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] (12 November 1918 – 24 March 2009) was a [[New Zealand]] [[bomber]] and [[airline]] pilot.

== Early life ==

Miller was born in 1918 in New Zealand and educated at [[Auckland Grammar School]].<ref name="The Times - obituary">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6564156.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523202658/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6564156.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2010|title=Squadron Leader Denis 'Dusty' Miller: bomber and airline pilot|date=24 June 2009|work=The Times|accessdate=2009-06-23 | location=London}}</ref>

== Military career ==

Miller travelled to the [[United Kingdom]] in 1941, where he served in [[RAF Bomber Command]]. His first posting was to [[No. 50 Squadron RAF]], where he flew [[Handley Page Hampden|Hampdens]]. He then moved to [[No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF]] to instruct on [[Vickers Wellington]]s.<ref name="The Times - obituary" />

== Later life and death ==
At the end of World War II, Miller joined [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]]. He flew a variety of aircraft with BOAC for over 28 years.<ref name="The Times - obituary" />

== Awards and decorations ==

On 23 June 1942,<ref name="London Gazette (23 June 1942)" /> the then Acting [[Flight Lieutenant]] Miller was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] ''in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy''.<ref name="London Gazette (23 June 1942)">{{London Gazette|issue=35609|supp=y|pages=2817–2818|date=23 June 1942}}</ref>

On 12 May 1944,<ref name="London Gazette (9 May 1944)">{{London Gazette|issue=36511|supp=y|page=2185|date=9 May 1944}}</ref> the then Acting Squadron Leader Miller was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] ''in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy''. The details were gazetted on 9 May 1944 as follows:
<blockquote>
Acting Squadron Leader Dennis MILLER, DFC (NZ402207), Royal New Zealand Air Force, No 49 Squadron
<br />
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has completed very many sorties, including five attacks on Berlin and three against Hanover. Throughout he has displayed a high degree of skill, courage and resolution, qualities which have earned him much success. In April 1944, he piloted an aircraft detailed for a minelaying mission. In spite of opposing fire from armed ships and from the shore batteries, Squadron Leader Miller executed his task with great precision and afterwards completed the long flight home safely.
His example has been worthy of emulation.<ref name="London Gazette (9 May 1944)" />
</blockquote>

== Personal life ==

He was married to Margery, who died in 2007. He has two children; a daughter, by whom he is survived and a son, who became a [[Boeing 747]] pilot with [[British Airways]], who predeceased him.<ref name="The Times - obituary" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100523202658/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6564156.ece Obituary at Times.co.uk]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Denis}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Auckland Grammar School]]
[[Category:New Zealand World War II pilots]]
[[Category:New Zealand World War II bomber pilots]]
[[Category:Commercial aviators]]