Mitchell Donovan Miles was born to John E. Miles and Etta Mae [Hobbs] Miles in Leaky Texas. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1941, his service number: 18056968. He married Harriet Porter, in Idaho in March, 1943.
Flying out of Polebrook England as part of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, SSGT Miles flew B17 missions over Europe during the first part of WWII.
On 1 December 1943, SSGT Miles was the Tail gunner on the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140) piloted by 1LT Eugene P. Harris, for a raid on the towns of Leverkusen - Solingen in the Ruhr Valley. On the return journey the Patty Anne was under attack by flack and German fighter planes. They shot down at least 1 fighter. The plane was severely damaged and experienced mechanical problems affecting two or three of the four engines.
Low on fuel and damaged, LT Harris ditched the plane in the English Channel, about 5 miles off-shore of Dunkerque, France. TSGT Orville Click described the landing as smooth and didn't jar the crew. All 10 members of the crew survived the landing and got into 4 emergency life rafts.
The boat that contained TSGT Tigue, SSGT Mellott, and LT O'Donoghue drifted away towards England. They were reported MIA, then eventually presumed dead. Although the sea was initially calm, the crew endured cold, wind and high waves. SSGT Mitchell Miles died from exposure on the night of December 3. High waves tossed SSGT Miles and LT Harris into the water. SSGT Miles was later recovered on the English shoreline. By the third day SSGT John McLain had also passed away. On December 4 the Air Sea Rescue Service sighted the men in the remaining raft. Navigator Thomas Briscoe died just before rescue. Of the ten-man crew, three survived.
In addition to his wife and parents, SSGT Mitchell Miles left behind sisters Elizabeth, and Gussie Mae, brothers John Elbert, and Elmo Erwin Miles.
Crew of the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140)
- First Lieutenant Eugene P. Harris - Pilot
- Second Lieutenant James J. O'Donoghue - Co-Pilot
- First Lieutenant Tommy A. Briscoe – Navigator & nose gunner
- Staff Sergeant John L. McLain - Bombardier
- Technical Sergeant Charles E. Tigue -Top turret gunner
- Staff Sergeant Harold R. Mellott - Waist gunner
- Staff Sergeant Mitchell D. Miles - Tail gunner
- Technical Sergeant Orville R. Click - Radio Operator
- Staff Sergeant Raymond L. Smith - Ball turret gunner
- Sergeant Paul Lucyk - Waist gunner (Survived, Killed in 1945)
Bio by Harry R. Alexander - 49232697.
Flying out of Polebrook England as part of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, SSGT Miles flew B17 missions over Europe during the first part of WWII.
On 1 December 1943, SSGT Miles was the Tail gunner on the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140) piloted by 1LT Eugene P. Harris, for a raid on the towns of Leverkusen - Solingen in the Ruhr Valley. On the return journey the Patty Anne was under attack by flack and German fighter planes. They shot down at least 1 fighter. The plane was severely damaged and experienced mechanical problems affecting two or three of the four engines.
Low on fuel and damaged, LT Harris ditched the plane in the English Channel, about 5 miles off-shore of Dunkerque, France. TSGT Orville Click described the landing as smooth and didn't jar the crew. All 10 members of the crew survived the landing and got into 4 emergency life rafts.
The boat that contained TSGT Tigue, SSGT Mellott, and LT O'Donoghue drifted away towards England. They were reported MIA, then eventually presumed dead. Although the sea was initially calm, the crew endured cold, wind and high waves. SSGT Mitchell Miles died from exposure on the night of December 3. High waves tossed SSGT Miles and LT Harris into the water. SSGT Miles was later recovered on the English shoreline. By the third day SSGT John McLain had also passed away. On December 4 the Air Sea Rescue Service sighted the men in the remaining raft. Navigator Thomas Briscoe died just before rescue. Of the ten-man crew, three survived.
In addition to his wife and parents, SSGT Mitchell Miles left behind sisters Elizabeth, and Gussie Mae, brothers John Elbert, and Elmo Erwin Miles.
Crew of the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140)
- First Lieutenant Eugene P. Harris - Pilot
- Second Lieutenant James J. O'Donoghue - Co-Pilot
- First Lieutenant Tommy A. Briscoe – Navigator & nose gunner
- Staff Sergeant John L. McLain - Bombardier
- Technical Sergeant Charles E. Tigue -Top turret gunner
- Staff Sergeant Harold R. Mellott - Waist gunner
- Staff Sergeant Mitchell D. Miles - Tail gunner
- Technical Sergeant Orville R. Click - Radio Operator
- Staff Sergeant Raymond L. Smith - Ball turret gunner
- Sergeant Paul Lucyk - Waist gunner (Survived, Killed in 1945)
Bio by Harry R. Alexander - 49232697.
Mitchell Donovan Miles was born to John E. Miles and Etta Mae [Hobbs] Miles in Leaky Texas. He joined the Army Air Corps in September 1941, his service number: 18056968. He married Harriet Porter, in Idaho in March, 1943.
Flying out of Polebrook England as part of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, SSGT Miles flew B17 missions over Europe during the first part of WWII.
On 1 December 1943, SSGT Miles was the Tail gunner on the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140) piloted by 1LT Eugene P. Harris, for a raid on the towns of Leverkusen - Solingen in the Ruhr Valley. On the return journey the Patty Anne was under attack by flack and German fighter planes. They shot down at least 1 fighter. The plane was severely damaged and experienced mechanical problems affecting two or three of the four engines.
Low on fuel and damaged, LT Harris ditched the plane in the English Channel, about 5 miles off-shore of Dunkerque, France. TSGT Orville Click described the landing as smooth and didn't jar the crew. All 10 members of the crew survived the landing and got into 4 emergency life rafts.
The boat that contained TSGT Tigue, SSGT Mellott, and LT O'Donoghue drifted away towards England. They were reported MIA, then eventually presumed dead. Although the sea was initially calm, the crew endured cold, wind and high waves. SSGT Mitchell Miles died from exposure on the night of December 3. High waves tossed SSGT Miles and LT Harris into the water. SSGT Miles was later recovered on the English shoreline. By the third day SSGT John McLain had also passed away. On December 4 the Air Sea Rescue Service sighted the men in the remaining raft. Navigator Thomas Briscoe died just before rescue. Of the ten-man crew, three survived.
In addition to his wife and parents, SSGT Mitchell Miles left behind sisters Elizabeth, and Gussie Mae, brothers John Elbert, and Elmo Erwin Miles.
Crew of the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140)
- First Lieutenant Eugene P. Harris - Pilot
- Second Lieutenant James J. O'Donoghue - Co-Pilot
- First Lieutenant Tommy A. Briscoe – Navigator & nose gunner
- Staff Sergeant John L. McLain - Bombardier
- Technical Sergeant Charles E. Tigue -Top turret gunner
- Staff Sergeant Harold R. Mellott - Waist gunner
- Staff Sergeant Mitchell D. Miles - Tail gunner
- Technical Sergeant Orville R. Click - Radio Operator
- Staff Sergeant Raymond L. Smith - Ball turret gunner
- Sergeant Paul Lucyk - Waist gunner (Survived, Killed in 1945)
Bio by Harry R. Alexander - 49232697.
Flying out of Polebrook England as part of the 509th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group, SSGT Miles flew B17 missions over Europe during the first part of WWII.
On 1 December 1943, SSGT Miles was the Tail gunner on the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140) piloted by 1LT Eugene P. Harris, for a raid on the towns of Leverkusen - Solingen in the Ruhr Valley. On the return journey the Patty Anne was under attack by flack and German fighter planes. They shot down at least 1 fighter. The plane was severely damaged and experienced mechanical problems affecting two or three of the four engines.
Low on fuel and damaged, LT Harris ditched the plane in the English Channel, about 5 miles off-shore of Dunkerque, France. TSGT Orville Click described the landing as smooth and didn't jar the crew. All 10 members of the crew survived the landing and got into 4 emergency life rafts.
The boat that contained TSGT Tigue, SSGT Mellott, and LT O'Donoghue drifted away towards England. They were reported MIA, then eventually presumed dead. Although the sea was initially calm, the crew endured cold, wind and high waves. SSGT Mitchell Miles died from exposure on the night of December 3. High waves tossed SSGT Miles and LT Harris into the water. SSGT Miles was later recovered on the English shoreline. By the third day SSGT John McLain had also passed away. On December 4 the Air Sea Rescue Service sighted the men in the remaining raft. Navigator Thomas Briscoe died just before rescue. Of the ten-man crew, three survived.
In addition to his wife and parents, SSGT Mitchell Miles left behind sisters Elizabeth, and Gussie Mae, brothers John Elbert, and Elmo Erwin Miles.
Crew of the B-17 "Patty Anne II" (42-3140)
- First Lieutenant Eugene P. Harris - Pilot
- Second Lieutenant James J. O'Donoghue - Co-Pilot
- First Lieutenant Tommy A. Briscoe – Navigator & nose gunner
- Staff Sergeant John L. McLain - Bombardier
- Technical Sergeant Charles E. Tigue -Top turret gunner
- Staff Sergeant Harold R. Mellott - Waist gunner
- Staff Sergeant Mitchell D. Miles - Tail gunner
- Technical Sergeant Orville R. Click - Radio Operator
- Staff Sergeant Raymond L. Smith - Ball turret gunner
- Sergeant Paul Lucyk - Waist gunner (Survived, Killed in 1945)
Bio by Harry R. Alexander - 49232697.
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TEXAS SSGT
(509 BOMB SQ) 351 BOMB GP
WORLD WAR II
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