World War II Honoree

Robert G. 'Bob' Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Peoria County, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER ABOARD A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER NICKNAMED 'SKYWAY CHARIOT' IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. ASSIGNED TO THE 351ST BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 100TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), BASED AT RAF THORPE ABBOTTS, ENGLAND. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN OVER GERMANY ON MARCH 18,1945. HIS PLANE WAS HIT, CAUGHT FIRE AND BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED BY A GERMAN MESSERSCHMIDT ME-262, THE WORLD'S FIRST OPERATIONAL JET FIGHTER. OF HIS FLIGHT CREW, HE AND ANOTHER WERE KILLED IN THE FINAL ATTACK ON HIS PLANE, 7 BAILED OUT AND SURVIVED AND ONE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN. AWARDED SILVER AERIAL GUNNER WINGS, THE PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.