Minden Blake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 13 February 1913 Eketāhuna, New Zealand |
| Died | 30 November 1981 (aged 68) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1958 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Service number | 36095 |
| Commands | No. 238 Squadron No. 234 Squadron Exeter (Polish) Wing Portreath Wing |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in despatches (2) |
Minden Vaughan Blake DSO, DFC (13 February 1913 – 30 November 1981) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with shooting down thirteen aircraft.
Born in Eketāhuna, New Zealand, Blake earned bachelor's and master's degrees in science from Canterbury University College. In 1936, he joined the RAF after twice missing out on a Rhodes Scholarship and was posted to No. 17 Squadron. He participated in the Battle of Britain in 1940 as acting commander of No. 238 Squadron and then No. 234 Squadron, destroying several German bombers. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1941. By mid-1942, he was commanding a fighter wing. He was shot down on 19 August during aerial operations in support of the Dieppe Raid and became a prisoner of war. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order just a few days previously.
After the war, he continued to serve in the RAF in a series of senior posts until 1958. In civilian life, he worked for a number of manufacturing companies. He was also an inventor, developing a golfing aid that was a commercial success. He died in Surrey in 1981, aged 68.