Mitchell James Richard

Name:

James Richard Mitchell

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-777761

Unit:

601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1945-01-20

State:

Texas

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France

Plot:

D

Row:

40

Grave:

26

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

James Richard Mitchell was born on January 1, 1924, in Houston, Harris County, Texas. He was the son of John Percy Mitchell and Winnie Davis Mitchell. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17 #43-37889 nicknamed ''The Black Widow'' during World War II.

On January 20, 1945, during a bombing mission over Mannheim, Germany, the B-17 Black Widow was damaged by flak, disabling one engine before the bomb ran and setting another on fire afterward. Forced to abandon the aircraft over Mechtersheim, Germany, seven crew members parachuted safely and were captured as POWs, while two were Killed in Action.

2Lt Mitchell was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. James R. Mitchell's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 20, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, www.398th.org