Air Marshal Frank Walter Mussell (born 31 May 1932) is a retired commander of the

Rhodesian Air Force The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury (now Harare) which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was th ...

and of the Air Force of Zimbabwe. Frank Walter Mussell was born on 31 May 1932 in

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

(now Harare) in

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British Crown colony in Southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally known as South ...

. After schooling in Rhodesia and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, Mussell briefly worked as a clerk before joining the

Southern Rhodesia Air Force The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Harare, Salisbury (now Harare) which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it ...

in 1952. After two years of pilot training, Mussell was granted a permanent commission and appointed to be aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Tredgold, the Chief Justice and acting governor of Southern Rhodesia. After this tour Mussell trained on the

de Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH100 Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland, de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force, RAF, after the Gloster Meteo ...

jet fighter and was involved in ferrying Vampires from the UK to Rhodesia. In 1961 he was promoted to

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

and appointed to command No. 5 Squadron. In 1963 Mussell returned to the UK to attend the

RAF Staff College, Bracknell The RAF Staff College at Bracknell was a Royal Air Force staff college active for most of the second half of the 20th century. Its role was the training of staff officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of air force matters. It ...

. On completion of his staff training he served at the Rhodesia Air Force headquarters in the operations branch before gaining a promotion to

wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Wing commander is immediately se ...

and taking up appointment as the director of plans (air) on the Rhodesian Joint Planning Staff. In 1966 Mussell was sent to

Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

, where he joined the Rhodesian Diplomatic Mission as the first secretary (political). He returned to Rhodesia at the end of 1967 to take up post as the officer commanding RRAF Thornhill with a promotion to

group captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

. On completion of his time at Thornhill, Mussell returned to Air Force headquarters as the senior air staff officer. Thereafter he was appointed director of administration. On promotion to

air commodore Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

, Mussell was appointed director-general operations. In 1973 he was promoted again to

air vice-marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometime ...

and appointed Air Force Chief of Staff. Four years later Mussell was appointed to commander of the

in the rank of air marshal, succeeding Air Marshal 'Mick' McLaren. Mussell held the senior Rhodesian Air Force appointment until 1981, during which time Zimbabwe gained its independence and the air force was renamed the

Air Force of Zimbabwe The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998– ...

. Mussell was replaced by Air Marshal Norman Walsh,

Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of th ...

's appointee.

Awards

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mussell, Frank Walter 1932 births Rhodesian people of British descent People from Harare Rhodesian Air Force air marshals White Rhodesian people Air Force of Zimbabwe air marshals Living people