Air Commodore John Lewis Mitchell LVO DFC AFC (November 12, 1918 – February 5, 2016) was a pilot who flew Winston Churchill around the world in his specially fitted aircraft, Ascalon. Mitchell was born in South Croydon and educated at Bancroft's School. During World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill had flown in RAF and civil aircraft but as the war intensified it was decided that he would fly in special plane codenamed, Ascalon, after the lance with which St George killed the dragon.