World War II Honoree

Babe Ruth 'B.R.' Mitchell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Goodnight, Armstrong County, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. AFTER THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, TERRITORY OF HAWAII ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HE APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A PILOT. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PRIMARY, BASIC, AND ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOLS, HE WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT TRAINING, AND AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS, ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1942. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. SERVED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' HEAVY BOMBER PILOT OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, INCLUDING IN SOUTHERN EUROPE, DURING THE WAR. FLEW 51 MISSIONS BETWEEN 1943-44; AND RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1944. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED, AND RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT IN JUNE, 1945. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.