John W Mitchell

Military

John Mitchell was Co-Pilot of B-17 #42-39840 "The Lopin' Lobo", hit by Flak on the 1 December 1943 mission to Solingen/Leverkusen. The Fortress was flown back to England, but six men had baled out over Belgium (see their pages at www.evasioncomete.be > Fiches). Shot down 11 January 1944 in B-17 #42-31033 'Pee Tey Kun'. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16066267
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13116815
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 37398663
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 496th Fighter Training Group 1st Scouting Force 385th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13008053 / O-802852
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pee-Tey-Kuh
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Lopin Lobo
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 11 January 1944 Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12. NARA POW record : "Returned to Military Control 4 July 1945."

Born

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Research on the crew of 42-39840 for website www.evasioncomete.be

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the "POW" event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to Stalag Luft 1 per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added S/N and POW camp information from WW2 POW records at the National Archives.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for readability.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2507 / MACR 2507, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=432 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database