Radio Operator-Gunner aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97235 with the 729th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group.
Shot down by enemy fighters enroute to Brux, Czechoslovakia, and crashed near Merzhausen, four miles southwest of Usingen, Germany. Five crewmembers were killed and five survived with injuries and taken prisoner. Missing Air Crew Report № 4778.
KIA were also:
● 2LT Walter V Naylor, O-753238, CO, Pilot
● 2LT Austin F Casselberry, O-707855, CA, Navigator
● 2LT Michael M Veselich, O-757932, CA, Bombardier
● SSGT Durward F Mitchell, TX, Radio Operator
● SGT John W Ahern, 37159083, MN, Ball Turret Gunner
Newspaper article:
European Action Staff Sgt. Duward Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Mitchell of 1300 Wilks, is missing in action following following an allied aerial foray over continental Europe on May 12, according according to War Department information information received by the parents today. today. Although the message did not specify specify the nature of the mission he was flying, a check-back on AP news dispatches from England of May 12 action, reveals that massive attacks by American flyers were made on the Ruhr valley, France and Belgium, Belgium, with a nominal loss of personnel. Sgt. Mitchell, 21, was a graduate of Pampa High school, was a good tennis and basketball player. He left the States for England a few weeks ago, where he was serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. The parents had heard from him since he had been there. He has two brothers and three sisters. One brother, A. J., lives at Pampa. Otis, the other brother, was for about 15 years coach at the local high school. One of his closest closest friends here was Grover Lee Heiskell, who is now an ensign at Corpus Chrlsti.
Clipped from Pampa Daily News, 26 May 1944, Fri, Page 1
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Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: 38340264.
Shot down by enemy fighters enroute to Brux, Czechoslovakia, and crashed near Merzhausen, four miles southwest of Usingen, Germany. Five crewmembers were killed and five survived with injuries and taken prisoner. Missing Air Crew Report № 4778.
KIA were also:
● 2LT Walter V Naylor, O-753238, CO, Pilot
● 2LT Austin F Casselberry, O-707855, CA, Navigator
● 2LT Michael M Veselich, O-757932, CA, Bombardier
● SSGT Durward F Mitchell, TX, Radio Operator
● SGT John W Ahern, 37159083, MN, Ball Turret Gunner
Newspaper article:
European Action Staff Sgt. Duward Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Mitchell of 1300 Wilks, is missing in action following following an allied aerial foray over continental Europe on May 12, according according to War Department information information received by the parents today. today. Although the message did not specify specify the nature of the mission he was flying, a check-back on AP news dispatches from England of May 12 action, reveals that massive attacks by American flyers were made on the Ruhr valley, France and Belgium, Belgium, with a nominal loss of personnel. Sgt. Mitchell, 21, was a graduate of Pampa High school, was a good tennis and basketball player. He left the States for England a few weeks ago, where he was serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. The parents had heard from him since he had been there. He has two brothers and three sisters. One brother, A. J., lives at Pampa. Otis, the other brother, was for about 15 years coach at the local high school. One of his closest closest friends here was Grover Lee Heiskell, who is now an ensign at Corpus Chrlsti.
Clipped from Pampa Daily News, 26 May 1944, Fri, Page 1
~
Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: 38340264.
Radio Operator-Gunner aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97235 with the 729th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group.
Shot down by enemy fighters enroute to Brux, Czechoslovakia, and crashed near Merzhausen, four miles southwest of Usingen, Germany. Five crewmembers were killed and five survived with injuries and taken prisoner. Missing Air Crew Report № 4778.
KIA were also:
● 2LT Walter V Naylor, O-753238, CO, Pilot
● 2LT Austin F Casselberry, O-707855, CA, Navigator
● 2LT Michael M Veselich, O-757932, CA, Bombardier
● SSGT Durward F Mitchell, TX, Radio Operator
● SGT John W Ahern, 37159083, MN, Ball Turret Gunner
Newspaper article:
European Action Staff Sgt. Duward Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Mitchell of 1300 Wilks, is missing in action following following an allied aerial foray over continental Europe on May 12, according according to War Department information information received by the parents today. today. Although the message did not specify specify the nature of the mission he was flying, a check-back on AP news dispatches from England of May 12 action, reveals that massive attacks by American flyers were made on the Ruhr valley, France and Belgium, Belgium, with a nominal loss of personnel. Sgt. Mitchell, 21, was a graduate of Pampa High school, was a good tennis and basketball player. He left the States for England a few weeks ago, where he was serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. The parents had heard from him since he had been there. He has two brothers and three sisters. One brother, A. J., lives at Pampa. Otis, the other brother, was for about 15 years coach at the local high school. One of his closest closest friends here was Grover Lee Heiskell, who is now an ensign at Corpus Chrlsti.
Clipped from Pampa Daily News, 26 May 1944, Fri, Page 1
~
Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: 38340264.
Shot down by enemy fighters enroute to Brux, Czechoslovakia, and crashed near Merzhausen, four miles southwest of Usingen, Germany. Five crewmembers were killed and five survived with injuries and taken prisoner. Missing Air Crew Report № 4778.
KIA were also:
● 2LT Walter V Naylor, O-753238, CO, Pilot
● 2LT Austin F Casselberry, O-707855, CA, Navigator
● 2LT Michael M Veselich, O-757932, CA, Bombardier
● SSGT Durward F Mitchell, TX, Radio Operator
● SGT John W Ahern, 37159083, MN, Ball Turret Gunner
Newspaper article:
European Action Staff Sgt. Duward Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Mitchell of 1300 Wilks, is missing in action following following an allied aerial foray over continental Europe on May 12, according according to War Department information information received by the parents today. today. Although the message did not specify specify the nature of the mission he was flying, a check-back on AP news dispatches from England of May 12 action, reveals that massive attacks by American flyers were made on the Ruhr valley, France and Belgium, Belgium, with a nominal loss of personnel. Sgt. Mitchell, 21, was a graduate of Pampa High school, was a good tennis and basketball player. He left the States for England a few weeks ago, where he was serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. The parents had heard from him since he had been there. He has two brothers and three sisters. One brother, A. J., lives at Pampa. Otis, the other brother, was for about 15 years coach at the local high school. One of his closest closest friends here was Grover Lee Heiskell, who is now an ensign at Corpus Chrlsti.
Clipped from Pampa Daily News, 26 May 1944, Fri, Page 1
~
Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: 38340264.
Inscription
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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